Angry American Politics - What We Can Learn From The Election of 1800

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In this week’s episode, we take a look at a tipping point in American – and world – history: the ugly, nasty election of 1800 and the bloodless ‘revolution’ that occurred in its wake.

The Election of 1800 marked a pivotal moment in American history, as it demonstrated the resilience of the young republic’s democratic institutions. This was the first election where Americans had to choose between two distinct political parties: the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans.

Led by President John Adams, the Federalists advocated for a strong central government, bank, and military. They feared the influence of the ‘common man’ and supported the Alien and Sedition Acts, which restricted free speech and made it difficult for immigrants to vote.

Led by Vice President Thomas Jefferson, the Democratic-Republicans favored a limited government, states’ rights, and a reduction in the national debt. They opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts and campaigned against the Federalists’ ‘monarchical’ tendencies.

The election campaign was characterized by unprecedented vitriol and personal attacks. The Federalists accused Jefferson of being an atheist and a radical who would destroy the nation. The Democratic-Republicans attacked Adams as a ‘monarchist’ who would establish a dictatorship.

The Electoral College vote resulted in a tie between Jefferson and his running mate Aaron Burr. The election was then decided in the House of Representatives, where the Federalists, despite their opposition to Jefferson’s policies, ultimately supported him over Burr. This was largely due to the efforts of Alexander Hamilton, who feared Burr’s lack of principles.

Jefferson’s victory marked the first peaceful transfer of power from one political party to another in human history. He was inaugurated as president in 1801 and quickly implemented his agenda, including reducing the size of the government, ending the Alien and Sedition Acts, and purchasing the Louisiana Territory from France.

Americans, then, saw their experiment in constitutional self-government survive its first true stress test, and from that we, too, can draw lessons and reassurance in our fraught times. The system, then, was new, and yet it worked. The system, now, still works, and we, again, have not turned to bullets, but ballots to resolve our political differences. Jefferson reminded Americans of such in his first inaugural address, wherein he asserted “We are all republicans: we are all federalists,” seeking to unite Americans around our core values and the institutions we have created to serve our greater good.