The+Transit+of+Power

VB – The election of 1800 was a hallmark in American history. One important reason addresses the electoral tie that occurred between the two Republican candidates, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. In the House of Representatives, Federalists members were in conflict over the candidates of choice. Richard Hofstadter postulates that Federalists supported Jefferson because they believed his victory would help preserve the existence of their party. Alexander Hamilton, a distinguished Federalist, warned his party that electing Burr would equate to the election of a tyrant. Most of his party adhered to his warning and voted for the “senile” Jefferson. Burr’s indecisiveness caused Hamilton much concern and his admonishment of this candidate was based on Burr’s past affiliation with the Federalist Party. The Federalists believed it was better to chance Jefferson’s policies than to lose the foundation of the American government.

Alternatively, Joanne B. Freeman in __The election of 1800: a study in the logic of the political change__, discusses an interesting point of view. Freeman states that the Federalists and Republicans alike were not so centered on their political party, but were worried about preserving the democratic republic they had established. This argument would also correlate with Hamilton’s plea to his fellow federalists to vote for Jefferson. Although there is an aurora of mystery surrounding this election, there are still multiple possibilities of why the Federalists chose Jefferson. checked


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