Presidential Elections in American History

The Fourth Presidential Election (1800)

Held from October 31st to December 3rd, 1800
Known as the "Revolution of 1800" due to political realignment
Essentially a rematch between incumbent President John Adams and Vice President Thomas Jefferson

Adams and Jefferson had a tense relationship
Nasty campaign with personal attacks:
- Jefferson supporters: Adams had a "hideous hermaphroditical character"
- Adams supporters: Jefferson was "a mean-spirited son of a half-breed Indian squaw sired by a Virginia Mulatto Father"
- Federalists: Jefferson a "Bad Christian" with too much sympathy for the French Revolution
- Democratic Republicans: Adams gave too much power to the federal government, criticized the Alien and Sedition Acts, and expansion of the military

First election where political parties officially chose running mates
Federalists: Charles Cotesworth Pinckney chosen as Adams' running mate
Democratic Republicans: Aaron Burr chosen as Jefferson's running mate
Electoral college process: Each elector voted for two people, top two became president and vice president

Heavily disputed results
Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr received 73 electoral votes each
House of Representatives had to choose the president
- Influenced by Alexander Hamilton, House chose Jefferson
Jefferson became the third President, Burr the third Vice President
John Adams received 65 electoral votes (first one-term president)
- Federalists gave 64 electoral votes to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney and one to John Jay

First peaceful transition of political power between opposing parties in American history
Marked the beginning of Democratic Republican Party dominance and decline of the Federalist Party
- Federalists never had another president in office

Affected election results
Without counting slaves for congressional apportionment, Adams would have won electoral vote
Jefferson would still have won popular vote

I'll see you for the next election buddy.