ROOTS AND ROUTES

ELECTION CHRONOLOGY

LETTERS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON

Date Events and Contents Document(s)

1800

April 29 Legislative election in New York City decides New York's electoral vote for Jefferson and Burr, ensuring national Republican victory as well. LETTER OF THOMAS JEFFERSON

May 3 Federalist Alexander Hamilton writes Governor Jay urging him to call an extra session of the lame duck Federalist legislature to change the mode of choosing presidential electors and reverse the outcome of the New York election. His letter is intercepted by Republican Vice President candidate Aaron Burr and published in Republican newspapers the following day.

May 8 Anti-Federalist ticket prevails in New York REV. THOMAS ROBBINS' DIARY

May 10 Land Act of 1800 (sponsored by William Henry Harrison) makes public lands affordable for small farmers gaining support for Republicans in the West and East.

June Hamilton tours New England and secretly schemes to manipulate Federalist Electoral votes in favor of pro-military VP candidate C.C. Pinckney, relegating Adams to Vice Presidency. RECOLLECTION OF JOHN ADAMS (PARTON)

June 4 President John Adams and his family move into newly completed White House. LETTER OF ABIGAIL ADAMS

August Meeting between Jefferson and Adams; Adams acknowledges Jefferson's likely victory and expresses faith in the electoral process. LETTER OF THOMAS JEFFERSON

August 13 To CT Republican Gideon Granger, re: Federalism, XYZ Affair, prospects for the New England vote LETTER OF THOMAS JEFFERSON

August 30 Gabriel's Rebellion (Virginia Federalists blame Jacobins and Republicans)

September Legislative elections in MD, NJ

September 21 A short address to the voters of Delaware (Federalist) BROADSIDE

September 25 About his personal efforts against Jefferson REV. THOMAS ROBBINS' DIARY

October
Legislative elections in PA, SC. Burr makes political swing through New England; Hamilton's attack on Adams picked up by Republican papers.

October 6 Mr. Jefferson an enemy of the Constitution; dangers of Republican infidels to a Christian nation CONNECTICUT COURANT

November 8 War Department fire

November 23 Appears election depends on Pennsylvania Senate REV. THOMAS ROBBINS' DIARY

November 29
Pennsylvania's split vote leaves Adams and Jefferson tied with 65 electoral votes apiece, South Carolina legislative outcome (and 8 electoral votes) still outstanding.

December 2 South Carolina compromise ticket fails; all 8 electoral votes will go to Jefferson and Burr

Early December Philadelphia Republicans organize Republican Blues - a citizen militia

December 3 Deadline for counting Electoral votes in the states

December 8 Aurora correctly predicts Adams 65 votes to Jefferson 73

December 15 Address of the Republican committee of the County of Gloucester, NJ BROADSIDE

December 16 Aaron Burr writes Samuel Smith denying he will seek the Presidency over Jefferson CONNECTICUT COURANT

December 17 First threat to assassinate Jefferson

December 19 Maryland, General Assembly, House of Delegates proposes U.S. Constitution amendment on choice of electors CONNECTICUT COURANT BROADSIDE

December 21 S. Carolina has voted for Jefferson; probable he will be President. REV. THOMAS ROBBINS' DIARY

Late December
Official count arrives from KY and TN, showing Republicans did not throw away a vote for Burr; therefore Burr and Jefferson both will have same number of electoral votes. According to Constitution, either man may be President, though both ran on the Republican ticket. Hamilton writes Federalist friends in Congress, supporting Jefferson over Burr.

December 31 Adams predicts Civil War LETTERS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON

1801

Early January Southern and New England supporters urge Burr to reconsider campaigning for President.

January New Judiciary Act opens up 23 judgeships for Adams to fill.

January 15 Electors have given equal votes to Jefferson and Burr; Prospect of a Jefferson-Burr ticket CONNECTICUT COURANT

January 19 "Virginia Planter" fears Burr's election, examines prospects for preventing it. NEW YORK GAZETTE

January 20 Treasury Department Fire.

February House appoints committee to investigate suspicious fires.

February 1 LETTERS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON

February 11
Opening of Federalist controlled (lame duck) Congress; electoral ballot count. Vice Pres. Thomas Jefferson opens certificates and proclaims tie. Ballotting continues until 3:00 a.m. without breaking deadlock
CONNECTICUT COURANT

February 12 Congress reconvenes at noon. Thousands pour into Washington, D.C. and throng around the still unfinished Capitol where voting is taking place. Only one ballot is taken; still a tie. NEW YORK GAZETTE

February 13 Two ballots. Behind the scenes dealings in progress.

February 14
Jefferson calls on Adams in hope of dissuading him from a rumored plan to elect a (Federalist) President Pro Tem in Senate to assume power on March 5. Jefferson refuses to submit to Adams's requirements re: Federalist officials, Navy and the debt; perhaps threatens a new Constitutional Convention if Federalists move on their rumored plan.
Three more inconclusive ballots.
Evening: James Bayard of Delaware and Samuel Smith discuss possible compromise plans.
LETTER OF THOMAS JEFFERSON (PARTON)

February 15 To James Monroe: If Federalists had passed a law to prevent election, Republicans announced the middle states would arm and demand a Constitutional Convention. LETTER OF THOMAS JEFFERSON

February 16
Bayard makes case for compromise to Federalist caucus, to vehement opposition; still no word from Burr that he would accept the Presidency if offered it.
Angry mob is cleared from the lobby of the House.

February 17 After further caucuses, Maryland and Vermont Federalists agree not to vote, allowing their states to go Republican; Delaware and South Carolina abstain.
Jefferson is elected on the 36th ballot. A total of 10 states vote for Jefferson; 4 for Burr.

February 23 Informed Mr. Jefferson chosen President..."a great frown of Providence." REV. THOMAS ROBBINS' DIARY

March 4 Inauguration of Jefferson as President, and Burr as Vice President. "I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR..." PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATIONS

March 4 Political Song composed for Inauguration Day BROADSIDE

March 6 To John Dickinson: mutual goals secured in victory LETTER OF THOMAS JEFFERSON

March 16 Democrats of COnnecticut have great fete at Wallingford REV. THOMAS ROBBINS' DIARY

March 23 Federalist protest that Election of TJ was owing to "horrible threats of his partizans" NEW YORK GAZETTE

April 2 To the electors of the Middle District, Dutchess County NY BROADSIDE

April 7 To the electors of the Southern District of the State of New York BROADSIDE

April 13 To the electors of Ontario County NY BROADSIDE

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Date	Events and Contents	Document(s)
1800
April 29	Legislative election in New York City decides New York's electoral vote for Jefferson and Burr, ensuring national Republican victory as well.	LETTER OF THOMAS JEFFERSON
May 3	Federalist Alexander Hamilton writes Governor Jay urging him to call an extra session of the lame duck Federalist legislature to change the mode of choosing presidential electors and reverse the outcome of the New York election. His letter is intercepted by Republican Vice President candidate Aaron Burr and published in Republican newspapers the following day.
May 8	Anti-Federalist ticket prevails in New York	REV. THOMAS ROBBINS' DIARY
May 10	Land Act of 1800 (sponsored by William Henry Harrison) makes public lands affordable for small farmers gaining support for Republicans in the West and East.
June	Hamilton tours New England and secretly schemes to manipulate Federalist Electoral votes in favor of pro-military VP candidate C.C. Pinckney, relegating Adams to Vice Presidency.	RECOLLECTION OF JOHN ADAMS (PARTON)
June 4	President John Adams and his family move into newly completed White House.	LETTER OF ABIGAIL ADAMS
August	Meeting between Jefferson and Adams; Adams acknowledges Jefferson's likely victory and expresses faith in the electoral process.	LETTER OF THOMAS JEFFERSON
August 13	To CT Republican Gideon Granger, re: Federalism, XYZ Affair, prospects for the New England vote	LETTER OF THOMAS JEFFERSON
August 30	Gabriel's Rebellion (Virginia Federalists blame Jacobins and Republicans)
September	Legislative elections in MD, NJ
September 21	A short address to the voters of Delaware (Federalist)	BROADSIDE
September 25	About his personal efforts against Jefferson	REV. THOMAS ROBBINS' DIARY
October	Legislative elections in PA, SC. Burr makes political swing through New England; Hamilton's attack on Adams picked up by Republican papers.
October 6	Mr. Jefferson an enemy of the Constitution; dangers of Republican infidels to a Christian nation	CONNECTICUT COURANT
November 8	War Department fire
November 23	Appears election depends on Pennsylvania Senate	REV. THOMAS ROBBINS' DIARY
November 29	Pennsylvania's split vote leaves Adams and Jefferson tied with 65 electoral votes apiece, South Carolina legislative outcome (and 8 electoral votes) still outstanding.
December 2	South Carolina compromise ticket fails; all 8 electoral votes will go to Jefferson and Burr
Early December	Philadelphia Republicans organize Republican Blues - a citizen militia
December 3	Deadline for counting Electoral votes in the states
December 8	Aurora correctly predicts Adams 65 votes to Jefferson 73
December 15	Address of the Republican committee of the County of Gloucester, NJ	BROADSIDE
December 16	Aaron Burr writes Samuel Smith denying he will seek the Presidency over Jefferson	CONNECTICUT COURANT
December 17	First threat to assassinate Jefferson
December 19	Maryland, General Assembly, House of Delegates proposes U.S. Constitution amendment on choice of electors	CONNECTICUT COURANT BROADSIDE
December 21	S. Carolina has voted for Jefferson; probable he will be President.	REV. THOMAS ROBBINS' DIARY
Late December	Official count arrives from KY and TN, showing Republicans did not throw away a vote for Burr; therefore Burr and Jefferson both will have same number of electoral votes. According to Constitution, either man may be President, though both ran on the Republican ticket. Hamilton writes Federalist friends in Congress, supporting Jefferson over Burr.
December 31	Adams predicts Civil War	LETTERS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON

1801
Early January	Southern and New England supporters urge Burr to reconsider campaigning for President.
January	New Judiciary Act opens up 23 judgeships for Adams to fill.
January 15	Electors have given equal votes to Jefferson and Burr; Prospect of a Jefferson-Burr ticket	CONNECTICUT COURANT
January 19	"Virginia Planter" fears Burr's election, examines prospects for preventing it.	NEW YORK GAZETTE
January 20	Treasury Department Fire.
February	House appoints committee to investigate suspicious fires.
February 1		LETTERS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON
February 11	Opening of Federalist controlled (lame duck) Congress; electoral ballot count. Vice Pres. Thomas Jefferson opens certificates and proclaims tie. Ballotting continues until 3:00 a.m. without breaking deadlock	CONNECTICUT COURANT
February 12	Congress reconvenes at noon. Thousands pour into Washington, D.C. and throng around the still unfinished Capitol where voting is taking place. Only one ballot is taken; still a tie.	NEW YORK GAZETTE
February 13	Two ballots. Behind the scenes dealings in progress.
February 14	Jefferson calls on Adams in hope of dissuading him from a rumored plan to elect a (Federalist) President Pro Tem in Senate to assume power on March 5. Jefferson refuses to submit to Adams's requirements re: Federalist officials, Navy and the debt; perhaps threatens a new Constitutional Convention if Federalists move on their rumored plan. Three more inconclusive ballots. Evening: James Bayard of Delaware and Samuel Smith discuss possible compromise plans.	LETTER OF THOMAS JEFFERSON (PARTON)
February 15	To James Monroe: If Federalists had passed a law to prevent election, Republicans announced the middle states would arm and demand a Constitutional Convention.	LETTER OF THOMAS JEFFERSON
February 16	Bayard makes case for compromise to Federalist caucus, to vehement opposition; still no word from Burr that he would accept the Presidency if offered it. Angry mob is cleared from the lobby of the House.
February 17	After further caucuses, Maryland and Vermont Federalists agree not to vote, allowing their states to go Republican; Delaware and South Carolina abstain. Jefferson is elected on the 36th ballot. A total of 10 states vote for Jefferson; 4 for Burr.
February 23	Informed Mr. Jefferson chosen President..."a great frown of Providence."	REV. THOMAS ROBBINS' DIARY
March 4	Inauguration of Jefferson as President, and Burr as Vice President.	"I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR..." PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATIONS
March 4	Political Song composed for Inauguration Day	BROADSIDE
March 6	To John Dickinson: mutual goals secured in victory	LETTER OF THOMAS JEFFERSON
March 16	Democrats of COnnecticut have great fete at Wallingford	REV. THOMAS ROBBINS' DIARY
March 23	Federalist protest that Election of TJ was owing to "horrible threats of his partizans"	NEW YORK GAZETTE
April 2	To the electors of the Middle District, Dutchess County NY	BROADSIDE
April 7	To the electors of the Southern District of the State of New York	BROADSIDE
April 13	To the electors of Ontario County NY	BROADSIDE