Our Country’s First Real Election The Election of 1800 vs. John Adams Thomas Jefferson Our Country’s First Real Election
Who is our friend? Issue #1
John Adams Federalists “The British are our friends. We have traditions, family ties, and trade with Britain.” “The XYZ Affair shows that the French cannot be trusted.”
Democratic-Republicans Thomas Jefferson “The French are our friends. They helped us in our revolution against Britain.” “Jay’s Treaty with Britain gave the French no choice in the XYZ Affair.” “We need our own American traditions.”
The Army and Navy Issue #2
John Adams “We need a strong military to protect our country.” Federalists “We need a strong military to protect our country.” “Our navy got the attention of the French during the XYZ Affair.” “We need a strong navy to protect our trade.”
Democratic-Republicans Thomas Jefferson “We do not need a standing army because it can be used against the people. I support a militia.” “The Federalist use the army to keep themselves in power. They only appoint Federalists as officers.”
Subversion Issue #3
John Adams Federalists “The Alien and Sedition Acts protect our young and vulnerable country from subversion by allowing us to remove dangerous people.”
Democratic-Republicans Thomas Jefferson “The Alien and Sedition Acts violate our First Amendment freedoms.” “Federalists do not fear subversion as much as they fear any criticism of their policies.”
Role of Federal and State Goverments Issue #4
John Adams Federalists “I am against the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions because the Constitution gives the federal government power and reserves power to the state governments.” “The federal government should always be stronger than the state governments.”
Democratic-Republicans Thomas Jefferson “I support the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. States should be stronger so that we do not have a federal government with too much power.” “The government gets its power from the people, and smaller state governments are more responsive to the people.”
Who should rule? Issue #5
John Adams Federalists “The rich and educated should rule because they have a vested interest in and knowledge of government.”
Democratic-Republicans Thomas Jefferson “The common people should have more say in the government. After all, they make up the greatest majority of Americans.” “Always remember the first words of the Constitution…. ‘We the people…’”
Who should be our next president? These are the issues. or John Adams Thomas Jefferson Who should be our next president?
Each Elector cast two votes: Jefferson and Burr tied for President Jefferson President Burr Vice President
Mainly Federalist in the House of Representatives Deadlocked for 35 votes Hamilton persuades House to vote for Jefferson
Hamilton will call Burr “A Scoundrel that cannot be trusted”. Jefferson is an honorable man Burr will not forget nor forgive Hamilton for those comments.
Those comments will cause the House to vote for Jefferson as the Third President of the United States.