The Election of 1800: Jefferson's Triumph and Precedents Set

1. Presidents and PrecedentsDay 3The Election of 1800 American History I Mr. Hensley SRMHS

2. Our Second President • In 1796, there are TWO candidates for President • John Adams (Federalist) • Thomas Jefferson (Democratic Republican) • Adams wins a narrow victory

3. Differences in Elections • In 1796, the second-place vote-getter became Vice-President • Electoral votes were NOT “winner takes all” – states could split their votes between candidates • Each elector could vote for two candidates for President (!)

4. John Adams Background • Born in New England, descended from Puritans • Became famous as a lawyer (defended the soldiers in the Boston Massacre) • Helped write Declaration of Independence • Helped negotiate Treaty of Paris

5. Adams: XYZ Affair The war between England & France caused problems: • France was mad that we did not ally with them & started to capture ships • 3 French officials (X, Y and Z ) demand bribes • Adams: “Millions for defense – not one cent for tribute!”

6. The Alien and Sedition Acts • Adams’ handling of the conflict with France led to criticisms from the Democratic-Republicans • The Federalists in Congress passed the Alien & Sedition Acts: • Made it a crime to criticize the president or gov’t leaders • This attack on free speech backfired & badly damaged the Federalist Party & Adams

7. Virginia & Kentucky Resolves • Jefferson & James Madison were outraged & wrote the Virginia & Kentucky Resolvesin 1798-99: • Presented a “states rights” argument suggesting that states could ignore (nullify) national laws • The “states rights” & “nullification” arguments will be used by the South to secede from the USA during the Civil War in 1860-61

8. Election of 1800 • Once again, Adams versus Jefferson in the Election of 1800 • Each man has a “running mate” (Pickney and Burr) • Jefferson ties with Aaron Burr and election is decided in the House • Slavery gives Jefferson the win (3/5ths Compromise)

9. 1800 Campaign Tactics • Jefferson accuses Adams of being a hermaphrodite • Adams says Jefferson is dead • No easy way to check facts back then • Once in print, hard to take it back

10. The Revolution of 1800 • Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans are in power after a bitter election • Jefferson encourages Congress to repeal Sedition Acts (and they do) • Jefferson cuts taxes and wants to balance the budget • Government becomes efficient, do more with less • Reduces size of army and allows charter of BUS to expire

11. Different Style • Jefferson felt the Federalists (especially Hamilton) were too aristocratic and cared too much about style • Democratic-Republicans favored function over form • Jefferson dressed plainly; ate simple foods and did not insist on formalities • This was popular with the people

12. Midnight Judges • In his last days as President, John Adams appoints dozens of Federalists to be judges in federal courts • Jefferson and Madison delay in delivering appointment letters • One judge, Marbury, sues and his case goes to the Supreme Court

13. John Marshall • Supreme Court (Chief Justice is Marshall) hears Marbury v. Madison • Marbury wants to use part of the Judiciary Act of 1789 to force Jefferson to let him be a judge • Marshall says that part of the Judiciary Act is unconstitutional • Precedent of judicial review

14. Judicial Review is Important • Marshall gave the D-R’s a “Pyrrhic” victory • Jefferson won in that he did not have to give Marbury a job as a judge • But the D-R’s lost the idea of nullification • Supreme Court – part of the federal gov’t – will determine whether or not a law is constitutional – not the states

15. Westward Expansion • New states: Kentucky (1792); Tennessee (1796) and Ohio (1803) • Population was 5 million in 1800 (about 20% were slaves) • Increases to 7 million by 1810 – most of it in the western states • Three regions now – North (industry); South (cash crops) and the West (food)