Tally of Votes for the 1800 Election

Cripes. What. A. Mess. Seriously, you thought the 2000 election was a joke? Somehow, this topped it. (It’s tough to make a nearly-workable analogy; I guess Adams is Bush [?], Jefferson is Gore, and Aaron Burr is Lieberman. Or vice-versa. Something. Either way, I think Benjamin Franklin ends up as Dick Gephardt.) Basically, Jefferson ran against Adams. Jefferson beats him, easy enough. But Jefferson ties with his running mate (Burr). It takes the House, plus Hamilton’s lobbying, to fix the thing. Few years later, Burr shoots him. Cripes.

February 17 1801

Source: The Center for Legislative Archives

Tags: 1800s, Aaron Burr, Elections, John Adams, Presidents, Thomas Jefferson

See All Tags