Election of 1800 EQ What was the

Election of 1800 • EQ: What was the long term effect of the election of 1800?

Election of 1800 • With John Adams threatening American civil liberties with the Alien and Sedition Acts – It’s time for another election… – Who is the public going to pick this time?

Election of 1800 • Federalists – John Adams • 1 st sitting president who had to seriously campaign to keep his job – Charles Pinckney • Picked because of success from XYZ Affair • Democratic –Republican – Thomas Jefferson • VP who really wants to be POTUS – Aaron Burr • Popular politician within Democratic –Republican party

Dirty Campaign! • Jefferson said that Adams was a, "a blind, bald, crippled, toothless man who is a hideous hermaphroditic character with neither the force and fitness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman. “ • Adams, in turn, said that Jefferson was "a mean-spirited, low-lived fellow, the son of a half-breed Indian squaw, sired by a Virginia mulatto father. “ • Good times, huh?

Election of 1800 Breakdown • Thomas Jefferson • Aaron Burr • John Adams - 73 electoral votes 65 electoral votes • Problem: – If there is a tie for 1 st, who wins? • Who becomes VPOTUS? • It goes to the House of Representatives to pick from the top 2 candidates!

In the case of a tie…House of Representatives picks the new POTUS • In the H of Reps – Most of the majority political party is the Federalists: • They refuse to vote for TJ – They pick Burr just because they hate Thomas Jefferson – The Democratic-Republican’s make up the rest • They vote for Jefferson • What happens? – It’s a tie vote 30 straight times… » Then, it gets weird….

Enter Alexander Hamilton • From What we know about Hamilton and Jefferson, what do you think is going to happen? • Do you think he will help Jefferson or hurt him?

Alexander Hamilton • Because he hated Aaron Burr so much… • Burr was a lawyer who represented a woman named Maria Reynolds…a woman Hamilton was having an affair with. – He got the Federalists to not vote at all • That way Jefferson could win! – Becomes 3 rd POTUS • Aaron Burr is furious – He becomes VPOTUS – Because of this…. » Aaron Burr and Hamilton will be lifelong enemies… • Until one shoots the other.

The U. S. Constitution gets a new amendment • 12 th amendment – Added in 1803 • Created 2 ballots for presidential elections: • 1 for POTUS • 1 for VPOTUS • That way there can never be a tie again…. we hope.

So what happens after the election of 1800… • Thomas Jefferson is excited!!! – Gets to become next POTUS • John Adams is very disappointed he took 3 rd. – Goes home to Massachusetts to retire. • Was happy that the power of the POTUS passed freely to another political party – Showed that our government was strong enough to endure. • Aaron Burr and Alex Hamilton? – It takes 4 years, but • It’s time to duel it out…

The Duel at Dawn…July 11, 1804 • Aaron Burr challenges Hamilton to the duel – They are to meet in New Jersey • Rules of duel: – They will march off 10 paces – They will turn and present arms – On command, they will fire at each other • If they both miss, you repeat…

The Death of Alexander Hamilton • Hamilton shoots the tree next to Burr • Burr shoots Hamilton in the chest – He dies the next day • With his death and John Adams retirement – The Federalist party ends.