Election Of 1800 Essay

Change in the United States After The Election of 1800

The newly formed United States faced an pivotal moment for the political system during the election of 1800. With the rise of political parties, politicians, citizens, and the media pushed for their party’s candidates to receive the most elector votes. The House of Representatives eventually decided the outcome of the election due to the unforeseen equal number of votes to Republican running mates Jefferson and Burr. Consequently, important congressmen, both Federalist and Republican, faced the challenge of deciding the new President of the United States. The election of Thomas Jefferson marked the first passage of power from the Federalist to the Republican party, led to the 12th Amendment

However, the election of Thomas Jefferson was not a complete revolution due to the preservation of a strong central government and the social institutions of slavery. The election of Thomas Jefferson was revolutionary because it led to changes in the US political system through the establishment of norms for the transfer of power between differing political parties and the addition of the 12th Amendment. With the creation of political parties came increased tension between differing perspective on how to run the United States. In Jefferson’s inaugural speech, he speaks about how “the animation of discussions and of exertions” that came with his election “has sometimes worn an aspect which might impose on strangers, unused to think freely, and to speak”. The election of 1800 was the beginning of an increase in conflict between the Republican and Federalist parties. The conflict was not only between politicians, but also “impose[d] on strangers”, signifying the public’s increased involvement in politics. Jefferson’s inaugural address, a primary source, provides key insight into the

The newspaper companies had very clear ties and biases toward either the Federalist or Republican parties. For example, the Philadelphia newspaper, The Gazette of the United States, published the statement, “Shall I continue in allegiance to GOD—AND A RELIGIOUS PRESIDENT; Or impiously declare for JEFFERSON—AND NO GOD!!!” The statement is clearly biased for a Federalist nominee over the Republican Thomas Jefferson. Newspaper articles contained opinion and biased statements in the hopes of swaying their readers toward the author’s political stance. With the election of 1800, there was an increase in newspapers endorsing a single party and pushing political beliefs on the public. These published political opinions also led to tension between candidates and politicians. For example, the election of 1800 brought unfavorable relationships between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams as well as between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr due to the new revolution in campaigning. The increase in tension between the members of opposite parties stemmed from the published insults and critical statements in newspapers. All sides in the election published articles similar to the one in the Gazette of The United States. These articles allow insight into the true opinions of political leaders from the people of the time and often, the candidate themselves pushed for