Nov. 11, Election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson’s presidency

1. Connection to Reform Movements

  • The Second Great Awakening was the first major reform movement in U.S. history.

  • It encouraged people to return to religion and improve morality.

  • It inspired other reform movements, like:

    • Temperance (against alcohol)

    • Abolition (end slavery)

    • Education reform

2. The Election of 1800

  • Candidates: Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) vs. John Adams (Federalist).

  • Electors voted for two people; the one with the most votes became president, second place became vice president.

  • The Democratic-Republicans planned for Jefferson to be president and Aaron Burr to be vice president.

  • Problem: One elector forgot to drop a Burr vote → Jefferson and Burr tied (73 each).

  • The House of Representatives had to break the tie.

  • Alexander Hamilton influenced the House to pick Jefferson, calling Burr unfit.

  • Jefferson became President, Burr became Vice President.

  • Burr later killed Hamilton in a duel and ruined his political career.

3. Jefferson’s Contradictions

Jefferson was called the “man of contradiction” because his actions often clashed with his beliefs:

Belief / Ideal

Contradiction / Reality

All men are created equal

He owned enslaved people

Supported freedom and limited government

Expanded power as president

Opposed aristocracy and formal politics

Still benefited from elite society

Believed in states’ rights

Used federal power (Louisiana Purchase)

4. Jefferson’s Beliefs and Values

  • White male suffrage: Thought voting was a duty for white male citizens.

  • Against aristocracy: Hated the formal, royal image of government.

  • Simple lifestyle: Answered the White House door himself, often in a robe.

  • Distrusted bankers and manufacturers: Saw them as corrupt; preferred independent farmers.

  • Supported freedom of speech and press: Essential for holding government accountable.

  • Believed in separation of church and state: Government should not favor a religion.

  • Religion: Was a Deist—believed in a supreme being but no specific religion.

    • Owned religious texts from many faiths (Bible, Qur’an, Torah, etc.).

    • His library became the Library of Congress.

5. Key Takeaways

  • Jefferson entered the presidency as an idealist but had to adapt to political realities.

  • The Election of 1800 was a turning point—it showed that power could peacefully transfer between parties.

  • Jefferson’s ideas and contradictions make him one of the most complex early presidents.