THE ELECTION OF 1800

ELECTION DEADLOCK

• When members of the Electoral College voted, Jefferson and Burr each received 73 votes.
• Because of this tie, the House f Representatives had to decide the election.
• At the time the electors voted for each presidential and vice-presidential candidate individually rather than voting for a party's candidates as a team.

ELECTION DEADLOCK

• In the House Federalists saw a chance to prevent the election of Jefferson by supporting Burr. For 35 ballots, the election remained tied. Finally, at Alexander Hamilton's urging, one Federalist decided not to vote for Burr. Although he was no friend of Jefferson's, Hamilton greatly distrusted Burr. Jefferson became president and Burr became Vice President.

ELECTION DEADLOCK

• To prevent another showdown between a presidential and a vice-presidential candidate, Congress passed the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution in 1803. This amendment, ratified in 1804, requires electors to vote for the president and Vice President on separate ballots.

JEFFERSON'S INAUGURATION

JEFFERSON'S INAUGURATION

• On March 4, 1801, the day of the inauguration, Jefferson dressed in everyday clothes. He left his boardinghouse and walked to the Senate to be sworn in as president. President Adams did not attend the ceremony. He had slipped out of the presidential mansion at 4:00 a.m. and left he city so he would not have to watch Thomas Jefferson become president.