A magnificent catastrophe : the tumultuous election of 1800, America's first presidential campaign / Edward J. Larson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Larson, Edward J. (Edward John)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Presidents--United States--Election--1800.

Presidents.

United States.

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826.

Jefferson, Thomas.

Adams, John, 1735-1826.

Adams, John.

Burr, Aaron, 1756-1836.

Burr, Aaron.

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804.

Hamilton, Alexander.

United States--Politics and government--1797-1801.

Politics and government.

Political culture--United States--History--18th century.

Political culture.

History.

Political culture--United States--History--19th century.

Physical Description:

xi, 335 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Free Press, [2007]

Summary:

"They could write like angels and scheme like demons." So begins Pulitzer Prize-winner Edward Larson's masterful account of the wild ride that was the 1800 presidential election-an election so convulsive and so momentous to the future of American democracy that Thomas Jefferson would later dub it "America's second revolution." This was America's first true presidential campaign, giving birth to our two-party system and indelibly etching the lines of partisanship that have so profoundly shaped American politics ever since. The contest featured two of our most beloved Founding Fathers, once warm friends, facing off as the heads of their two still-forming parties-the hot-tempered but sharp-minded John Adams, and the eloquent yet enigmatic Thomas Jefferson-flanked by the brilliant tacticians Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr.

Drawing on unprecedented, meticulous research of the day-to-day unfolding drama, Larson vividly re-creates the mounting tension as the lead passed back and forth. The outcome remained shrouded in doubt long after the voting ended. In its first great electoral challenge, our fragile experiment in constitutional democracy hung in the balance.

Contents:

Introduction: Independence Day, July 4, 1776 1

Chapter 1 From Friends to Rivals 5

Chapter 2 Crossing the Bar 37

Chapter 3 "Electioneering Has Already Begun" 67

Chapter 4 Burr v. Hamilton 87

Chapter 5 Caucuses and Calumny 112

Chapter 6 A New Kind of Campaign 138

Chapter 7 For God and Party 164

Chapter 8 Insurrection 190

Chapter 9 Thunderstruck 213

Chapter 10 The Tie 241

Epilogue: Inauguration Day, March 4, 1801 271.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 277-314) and index.

ISBN:

9780743293167

0743293169

9780743293174

0743293177

OCLC:

137324896