The Election of 1800

The Founders of the American Revolution

The founders of the American Revolution took a great risk: As the first colonies to rebel and call for their independence, they first battled for their freedom from the British Empire, which at the time was a superpower. Since the colonies had a past of fighting among themselves, the union that thirteen states created was unparalleled. Finally, the revolutionaries formally established a republic and a republican government in the recently conquered state. People in the Republic exercised their sovereign rights and disapproved of aristocratic and monarchical control. Currently, the public believes that a democratic government is secure and long-lasting. However, American were uncertain that their new government would not since they judged from the history, the best example was the ancient Rome republic which had collapsed. By 1798 America was the largest republic, and that is why they were worried if they will turn to be a successful nation (Morris, 34).

The Election of 1800

America was experiencing stable and suitable governance from George Washington for the eighth year after its independence. After the retirement of Washington Americans were to choose again in the year 1800. The election of 1800 was viewed as the most competitive and fierce election since it was between supports of pro-British rule and supporters of the pro-French ruling system. This election was important in the history of America because it determined the future of America since the party that won was set the rules and examples of the modern democracy.

Debates Between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans

After the America had obtained its independence George Washington was voted for unanimously and ruled for eight years and willingly resigned, he set the term limit of the modern USA presidents. In 1790’s there were various debates between Federalist and Democratic-Republicans on which method of governance should be adopted (Foner 23). The Federalist favored central governance where the president as a lot of power whereas the Democratic-Republic favored the distribution of power to states. Morris 34 observed “Federalists attacked Jefferson as an un-Christian deist whose sympathy for the French Revolution would bring similar bloodshed and chaos to the United States. On the other side, the Democratic-Republicans denounced the strong centralization of federal power under Adams’s presidency. Republicans’ specifically objected to the expansion of the U.S. army and navy, the attack on individual rights in the Alien and Sedition Acts, and new taxes and deficit spending used to support broadened federal action”. For this reason, 1800 was regarded as one of the most fiercely contested elections in American history.

The Campaigns and Outcome

Federal party majored its campaigns warning people and the electorate not to elect Jefferson who was the democratic-republican candidate. Adam together with his party warned people of the consequences of electing Jefferson. Adams portrayed Jefferson’s government like those experienced during the French revolution; he tried to instill fear on voters and electorates. Democrats - Republicans on the other hand campaign by issues they were worried about high taxes, decentralization of power to state and deficit spending that was allocated on broadening central actions. The outcome of the election was dramatic since the Democratic-Americans trounced the federal party and won the presidency and majority of all houses of Congress (Foner 34). The Presidential Decision in the electoral college vote was a close affair, but Jefferson won trouncing Adams.

The Significance of the Election of 1800

The election of the year 1800 was a significant and most hotly contested election ever held in the USA. The election was between those who wanted to maintain the status quo and those who wants to usher in the new regime. The win of Democratic-Americans ushered in the new system of governance that is witnessed today.

Works Cited

Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty! An American History: Seagull Fourth Edition. Vol. 1. WW Norton & Company, 2013.

Morris, Robin. ”America at the Ballot Box: Elections and Political History ed. by Gareth Davies and Julian E. Zelizer.“ Journal of Southern History 83.1 (2017): 153-154.