History and Social Science, Part 1

Question 1: Discuss and describe the election of 1800.

Answer 1: In the election of 1800, the Federalists were represented by John Adams and C.C. Pinckney, and the Democratic-Republicans by Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The Federalists had been weakened both by the unpopularity of the Alien and Sedition Acts and the internal feud between Adams and Hamilton. They therefore focused their campaign on Jefferson, accusing him of being an atheist, of stealing money from the poor and of having an affair with a slave. In the election, Jefferson finished with the same number of electoral votes as his supposed running mate, Burr, who surprisingly refused to concede. This situation led to the 12th amendment, which states that a candidate must stipulate his desired office. Jefferson finally won the tie-breaking vote in the House of Representatives, sweeping the Federalists out of office.

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Question 2: Give a summation of the Federalist period.

Answer 2: The Federalist period had some remarkable successes and some bitter failures. It saw the establishment of the national bank and the Treasury system under Hamilton. The United States, amazingly, was able to pay off all of its debt during this period. The Federalist administration can also be credited with maintaining international neutrality, establishing the Pinckney Treaty, crushing the Whiskey Rebellion, and getting the British out of their northwest posts. On the other hand, over time the Federalists became known as an elitist party, and the Alien and Sedition Acts were very unpopular. The Jay Treaty was seen as a diplomatic failure by most Americans, and in general the Federalists were not able to maintain very cordial relations with Europe (especially France).

Question 3: Discuss and describe the Jeffersonian Republicans.

Answer 3: After using his inauguration speech to try to pacify angry Federalists, Thomas Jefferson went on to introduce the “spoils system,” replacing Federalist office-holders with Republicans. He also reversed many of the Federalist policies: the Alien Act was repealed, and the Sedition Act expired in 1801 (everyone arrested under its authority was pardoned, absolved, and had their fines repaid). Jefferson also sought to reform the judiciary. The Judiciary Act of 1801, otherwise known as the Circuit Court Act, was passed by the Federalists in order to cement some of their judges in place; Jefferson in turn forced through the Judiciary Act of 1802, which removed all 42 of these judges.

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