Why was the election of 1800 such a major turning point in American history?
bullgatortail Teacher High School – 12th Grade eNotes Editor There were several “firsts” involved with the United States presidential election of 1800 when Vice President Thomas Jefferson defeated the incumbent John Adams. It was the first time in American presidential history–albeit after only three previous elections–that an incumbent was defeated. It marked the beginning of the dominating rule by the Democratic-Republican Party and led to the end of the old Federalist Party, of which Adams was a member. The election has also been referred to as the “Revolution of 1800” since Jefferson and his running mate Aaron Burr actually tied for voting in the Electoral College, and it took a week of political in-fighting before Jefferson was named the winner. (Thus, the intended secondary running mate, Burr, was nearly elected president.) Federalist Party activist Alexander Hamilton lobbied strenuously against Burr, which led to Jefferson’s eventual victory and the later duel in which Burr ki
