Jefferson's Second Revolution : The Election Crisis of 1800 and the Triumph of Republicanism

The election of 1800 was a revolution in the modern sense of a radical new beginning, but it was also a revolution in the sense of a return to the point of origin, to the principles of 1776. Federalist incumbent John Adams, and the elitism he represented, faced Republican Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson defeated Adams but, through a quirk in Electoral College balloting, tied with his own running mate, Aaron Burr. A constitutional crisis ensued. Congress was supposed to resolve the tie, but would the Federalists hand over power peacefully to their political enemies, to Jefferson and his Republicans? For weeks on end, nothing was less certain. The Federalists delayed and plotted, while Republicans threatened to take up arms.In a way no previous historian has done, Susan Dunn illuminates the many facets of this watershed moment in American history: she captures its great drama, gives us fresh, finely drawn portraits of the founding fathers, and brilliantly parses the enduring significance of the crisis. The year 1800 marked the end of Federalist elitism, pointed the way to peaceful power shifts, cleared a place for states’ rights in the political landscape, and set the stage for the Civil War. An “excellent” history of the tumultuous early years of American government, and a constitutional crisis sparked by the Electoral College (Booklist). In the election of 1800, Federalist incumbent John Adams, and the elitism he represented, faced Republican Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson defeated Adams but, through a quirk in Electoral College balloting, tied with his own running mate, Aaron Burr. A constitutional crisis ensued. Congress was supposed to resolve the tie, but would the Federalists hand over power peacefully to their political enemies, to Jefferson and his Republicans? For weeks on end, nothing was certain. The Federalists delayed and plotted, while Republicans threatened to take up arms. In a way no previous historian has done, Susan Dunn illuminates this watershed moment in American history. She captures its great drama, gives us fresh, finely drawn portraits of the founding fathers, and brilliantly parses the enduring significance of the crisis. The year 1800 marked the end of Federalist elitism, pointed the way to peaceful power shifts, cleared a place for states'rights in the political landscape—and set the stage for the Civil War. “Dunn, a scholar of eighteenth-century American history, has provided a valuable reminder of an election in which the stakes were truly enormous and the political vituperation was far more poisonous than the relatively moderate attacks heard today.... An excellent work that effectively explains this critical contest that shaped the history of the new republic.” —Booklist “Dunn does a superb job of recounting the campaign, its cast of characters, and the election's bizarre conclusion in Congress. That tense standoff could have plunged the country into a disastrous armed conflict, Dunn explains, but instead cemented the legitimacy of peaceful, if not smooth, transfers of power.” —Publishers Weekly “Dunn simultaneously teaches and enthralls with her eloquent, five-sensed descriptions of the people and places that shaped our democracy.” —Entertainment Weekly The election of 1800 was a revolution in the modern sense of a radical new beginning, but it was also a revolution in the sense of a return to the point of origin, to the principles of 1776. Federalist incumbent John Adams, and the elitism he represented, faced Republican Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson defeated Adams but, through a quirk in Electoral College balloting, tied with his own running mate, Aaron Burr. A constitutional crisis ensued. Congress was supposed to resolve the tie, but would the Federalists hand over power peacefully to their political enemies, to Jefferson and his Republicans' For weeks on end, nothing was less certain. The Federalists delayed and plotted, while Republicans threatened to take up arms. In a way no previous historian has done, Susan Dunn illuminates the many facets of this watershed moment in American history: she captures its great drama, gives us fresh, ;#64257;nely drawn portraits of the founding fathers, and brilliantly parses the enduring signi;#64257;cance of the crisis. The year 1800 marked the end of Federalist elitism, pointed the way to peaceful power shifts, cleared a place for states' rights in the political landscape, and set the stage for the Civil War "The election of 1800 was a revolution in the modern sense of a radical new beginning, but it was also a revolution in the sense of a return to the point of origin: the principles of 1776. Federalist incumbent John Adams, and the elitism he represented, faced Republican Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson defeated Adams, but through a quirk in Electoral College balloting he tied with his own running mate, Aaron Burr. A constitutional crisis ensued. Congress was supposed to resolve the tie, but would the Federalists hand over power peacefully to their political enemies, Jefferson and his Republicans? For weeks of end, nothing was less certain. The Federalists delayed and plotted, while the Republicans threatened to take up arms." "Susan Dunn illuminates the many facets of this watershed moment in American history. She captures its great drama, gives us portraits of the founding fathers, and examines the enduring significance and consequences of the crisis. The year 1800 marked the end of Federalist elitism, led the way to peaceful power shifts, established a place for states' rights in the political landscape, and set the stage for the Civil War."--BOOK JACKET. Illustrations......Page 10 1 On the Brink......Page 14 2 “If the people be governors, who shall be governed?”......Page 26 3 Farewell to Harmony......Page 48 4 Heir Apparent......Page 87 5 Sedition......Page 108 6 Life Without Father......Page 134 7 The War of Words......Page 150 8 Storms in the Atmosphere......Page 166 9 On the Campaign Trail......Page 188 10 Showdown......Page 203 11 March 4, 1801......Page 231 12 The New Politics......Page 240 13 Would the System Work?......Page 270 Epilogue......Page 286 Notes......Page 298 Acknowledgments......Page 366 Index......Page 367 Discusses the constitutional crisis that ensued when Republican Thomas Jefferson tied with his running mate Aaron Burr, a situation that Congress was supposed to resolve, while the Federalists delayed and plotted and Republicans threatened to take up arms. Discusses the constitutional crisis that ensued when the presidential election of 1800 resulted in a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, a situation that Congress was supposed to resolve