The First “Revolutionary Election”

Abstract The year 1800 marked the fourth time that the Electoral College met to select a US president. It was also the first fully contested presidential election: All sixteen states decided between John Adams for the Federalists and Thomas Jefferson for the Republicans. Five states allowed presidential electors to be chosen by popular vote. The Electoral College vote for both Jefferson and Burr was 73 votes; neither received a majority of electoral votes. The Constitution provided that the presidential election would be decided by the House of Representatives. The election of 1800 was indeed a “revolutionary election” in two different dimensions. The outcome marked the first peaceful transfer of power from one mass-based political party to another. Equally importantly, the election of 1800 was indeed “revolutionary” in terms Jefferson described it, as “a revolution in the principles of government” effected by “the suffrages of the people.”