The Election of 1800

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The election of 1800 was a fight between the democratic-republicans and the federalists party for presidency. It also became the first time in American History where there was a peaceful shift in the political party, from the federalists party to the democratic-republicans party (Jeffersonians). The election of 1800 consists of five candidates, each believing that victory by the other side would ruin their nation. The candidates were, Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson in the democratic-republican party, and John Adams, Charles Pinckney, and John Jay in the federalist party; The major presidential candidate in the election of 1800, were John Adams, running for his second term in office, against his old friend, the democratic-republicans Thomas Jefferson. John Adams who was elected the second president after serving as a vice president for George Washington was a federalist who was pro-British and pro-centralization. He believed in a national bank ruled mainly by the wealthy and a strong federal government to restrain many popular opinions and majorities; thus, passing the Alien Sedition Acts to prohibit anyone from criticizing the president and prevent any threat to the nation. Thomas Jefferson on the other hand who became our nations third president, was a democratic-republicans (Jeffersonians). He was pro-French and believed in a strong state government, rather than a strong federal government. He believed in laissez-faire, in which every individual had their very own rights, and that the government should be kept as limited as possible. Despite the fact that Thomas Jefferson supports the French belief and was a democratic-republican, he had the support of many artisans and urban worker who had previously supported John Adams a... ... middle of paper ... ...ident. The election also peacefully transferred from the federalist party to the democratic republican party, even though the Federalists wanted a stronger federal government to restrain popular majorities, while the Democratic-Republicans wanted to reduce national government and a stronger state government so that the people could rule more directly with popular sovereignty. The events leading to the election of 1800 and events after the election also helped shape the friendship of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, due to their political differences. The elections broke their friendship, but their retirement and Dr. Rush helped bring them back. Works Cited Nash, Gary. The American People: Creating a Nation and a Society. 7th ed. Vol. 1. Pearson Education, 2010. 243-244. Connor, Robert. "Adams and Jefferson." Personal Politics in the Early Republic (2012): 80-96

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