#election 1800

[fullofobsessions]

"Burr, when you see Hamilton, thank him for the endorsement."

Aaron, are you Alexander's letters to Eliza?

Because you just got burrnt!

[musicaltrash]

nobody:

my mind when I'm trying to sleep:

[dragoninahumancostume]

Aaron: I look forward to our partnership :]

Thomas: Our... Partnership?

Aaron: As your vice president! :D

Thomas, probably: The lion, the witch, and the AUDACITY of this bitch

[deadpresidents]

When did Adams and Jefferson last see each other in person?

I don't think they saw each other in person again after 1801 -- following Jefferson's election as President but before his inauguration because Adams left town before Jefferson was sworn in. Their friendship started to fall apart when Washington was President and really started to fray during the 1796 election, when Adams defeated Jefferson, which meant Jefferson ended up as Vice President under Adams because the system for electing the President and Vice President was ridiculous prior to the enactment of the 12th Amendment. The 1800 election was even nastier than 1796, and Adams retired to Massachusetts without sticking around for Jefferson's inauguration and they completely fell out of contact for over a decade.

Fellow Founding Father Benjamin Rush tried to get Adams and Jefferson to reconcile once Jefferson left office in 1809, but was unsuccessful until one of Jefferson's neighbors told him that he had visited Adams and Adams had said, "I always loved Jefferson and still love him," which led Jefferson to let Rush know that any beef that he had towards Adams was definitely squashed and that he'd respond if Adams wrote to him. Adams sent Jefferson a letter on January 1, 1812, Jefferson responded on January 21, and they restarted their remarkable correspondence and kept writing each other until they both died on the very same day, July 4, 1826, which also happened to be the 50th anniversary of the ratification of the Declaration of Independence, which will always be one of the craziest coincidences in the history of human existence.

[nataliedoesnotlie]

coquette john quincy adam’s 🎀

[yomawari]

For the endorsement.

[aaronburrsexdungeon]

art credit @aaronburrssexdungeon @ghostburr

[bug-bytes]

It's a shame that no one is insane about Hamilton on here anymore because I never recovered

[remingtonsposts]

this might be the intrusive thoughts talking :

but I find great joy in the idea that Alexander Hamilton is once again Aaron Burr's bane of existence in the afterlife.

He would be that petty.

[therealadothamilton]

The fact that those who blocked me take the time to set up side blogs then frequently log off main and onto a side just to check on what I've been posting lately...

Babygirls, it would've been less time-consuming if you had just unblocked me to see what I post instead of doing all this Hamiltonian style maneuvering behind the scenes like he did during the Elections of 1788, 1796, and 1800, nahmean?

🤣🤣🤣🤣

(I can just see them now, screaming, "I'm not like that asshole!")

Whispering "yes, you are."

😱

[vypridae]

JEFFERSON OR BURR? (DEAR MR. HAMILTON!)

[pub-lius]

burr pt.2 electric boogaloo (this joke is only funny to me)

its politics time, because Burr had a really fucking long political career and i get tired just reading about it. (also here's pt. 1)

Washington and Adams Administrations

Burr said he found politics "a great deal of fun" so he entered the 1792 gubernatorial race in NY, but withdrew bc Daddy Clinton told him to. He was supported by Northern republicans, but was distrusted by Southerners (wonder why). According to James Monroe, my detested, it was better to select "a person of more advanced life and longer standing in publick trust, particularly one who in consequence of such service had given unequivocal proofs of what his principles really were." Now, you may be thinking that he must be talking about Jefferson, but this is Monroe, and he was probably just kissing his own ass, as per usual.

Burr sided with anti-administration forces who opposed Hamilton's financial plan and Washington's foreign policy. Burr also defended Albert Gallatin who was unseated in 1794 after Federalists determined he did not meet the 9 year citizenship requirement.

Burr voted against Washington's nomination of John Jay as envoy to Britain in 1794, and was one of the most outspoken opponents of the Jay treaty.

Burr set his sights on the presidency with an energetic campaign in the 1796 election, and Republicans endorsed him as their second choice (ie vice-president canidate), but it was still a little divisive. Most, if not all, Democratic-Republicans voted for Thomas Jefferson, and only half of his voters also voted for Burr. Burr finished fourth with 30 electoral votes.

Burr retired from the Senate in 1797, and returned to the New York Assembly in 1798, making several enemies during his brief term. As relations with France got heated over the XYZ affair, Burr advocated for defensive measures to protect New York harbor. This was reasonable since New York was very strategically important, but it's location made it vulnerable to a naval attack. This prompted accusations that Burr had switched parties to the Federalist side, and that he abused public trust for personal benefit, a common theme in rumors about him. Allegedly, he participated in private land speculation ventures in NY and sought to enact legislation removing restrictions on land ownership by non-citizens, which would increase the value of western lands. Basically, they thought he was trying to influence legislation so he could make money.

Hammy boy is back and this time he is working together with Burr. Burr and Hamilton secured a charter and raised subscriptions for a private company to improve the water supply of Manhattan. These were two incredibly intelligent and creative men, and that is greatly reflected in their choice for the company's name, The Manhattan Water Company (/sarcasm). Turns out, the extra money from this was used to establish the Bank of Manhattan, which was controlled by Republicans. Pretend to be shocked even though both of them lived on Wall Street.

Some weird shit went down with the Republican voters in New York in the 1799 election, and Burr was turned out of office. People were really suspicious of him, but he remained a vital asset.

Burr opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts, which won him Demo-Republican support, especially in New York which had a large immigrant population. This ensured that NYC elected a Republican delegation to the state legislature in 1800.

Election of 1800

Republicans wanted a New Yorker for their 2nd presidential choice (im saying this instead of vice presidential candidate and you'll see why). Clinton refused, so Burr was the next option. He was nominated on May 11, 1800. Jefferson claimed he harbored reservations of Burr, but he was acting all nice to him to ensure Republican victory. Jefferson was also very busy with his behind-the-scenes campaign, writing letters and encouraging press support that was critical of the Adams Administration. This is when he called him a hermaphrodite btw.

Burr had a far more active campaign technique. He visited Rhode Island and Connecticut in late August to secure Republican support. Burr's political prowess during 1800 raised suspicion among enemies and supporters. He didn't fit the stoic, unattached statesman who just let his supporters run the campaign for him. Burr campaigned more like a modern politician.

It was generally expected that each elector would cast one vote for Jefferson, one for Burr. Each elector had two votes, and they didn't distinguish who they wanted for president, and who they wanted for vice president. Whoever came in second would be VP, so the party would generally determine who they would advocate the most, and who they would advocate the second most. Basically they were like "this guy is great! this guy is also pretty good. also we HATE those guys (other party's nominees)" So, they really just hoped that Jefferson would get the most, and Burr would get second.

...but, uh, by mid-December, Republicans still didn't have a president in office. They definitely defeated the Federalists, because Adams and Jay had like. no votes. But Jefferson and Burr both had 73 votes, and were at a stalemate, which meant that the vote would be taken to the House of Representatives.

Federalists JUMPED on this opportunity, specifically Hamilton, who had already doomed Adams to lose the election. Some Federalists believed that Burr was more flexible and less partisan, and would be more likely to approve Federalist legislation. Other Federalists who supported Burr hoped that if the two parties were deadlocked for too long, Federalist-leaning Congress would resolve the impasse with legislation authorizing the Senate to elect a Federalist president. This is stupid and idk why people thought this was possible.

Hamilton launched into his smear campaign of Burr. He advised other Federalists not to trust Burr in very simple words, but in the background he was spreading awful rumors about Burr, which was pretty usual. The only difference from how he attacked Burr vs how he attacked Adams is that he didn't publish anything about Burr, but he would have.

The House of Representatives announced Jefferson was the winner on February 17, 1801. Burr made only a few comments and they were guarded, evasive, and contradictory. He seemed particularly angry that there were rumors that he was soliciting Federalist support in an attempt to steal the presidency, which he didn't do, but he happily accepted any Federalist votes.

"...take no step whatsoever, by which the choice of the House of Representatives can be impeded or embarrassed, [instead] keep the game perfectly in Your own hand." -advice from Federalist Robert Goodloe Harber against withdrawing from the election that Burr followed

Jefferson Administration

Burr was inaugurated as VP on March 4, 1804 by James Hillhouse in the Senate Chamber of the new capitol. He gave a brief address of "about 3 sentences" which was overshadowed by Jefferson's speech.

He immediately received a shit ton of letters from associates seeking appointments and demanding removal of Federalists. He handed these off to Jefferson, who removed the "midnight appointments" from the Adams Administration.

In fall of 1801, Burr campaigned for a naval position for Matthew L. Davis, and it was around this time that Jefferson began to distance himself from Burr. Davis' appointment was reliant on Clinton and De Witt for a NY appointment. De Witt talked mad shit about Burr, and Burr was so upset that he talked in the third person about it (he did this a lot).

"The handbills were numerous, of various descriptions, uniform however in Virulent and indecent abuse. [T]o Vilify A.B. was deemed of so much consequence that packages of them were sent to various parts of the country." -Burr

Burr lost like. all political relevance except for being VP. I mean, people still respected him because he wasn't bad at his job, but they were incredibly suspicious of his Federalist friendships, alienation from Republicans, and his now infamous opportunism.

On January 27, 1802. Burr cast a tie-breaking vote that undercut Republican effort to repeal the Judiciary Act of 1801, which provided reforms to the Supreme Court which allowed for a potentially Federalist controlled judiciary (shout out John Marshall). Burr voted for Republican repeal, and secretly informed Federalists he would add amendments to make it acceptable to moderate Republicans. He resolved the tie in favor of Federalists.

"I am for the affirmative, because I can never resist the reference of a measure where the Senate is so nicely balanced, when the object is to effect amendment, that may accommodate it to the opinions of a larger majority; & particularly when I can believe that gentlemen are sincere in wishing a reference for this purpose. Should it, however, at any time appear that delay only is intended, my conduct will be different." -Burr (apparently in 2020 I didn't think it was important to have dates for my quotes.)

After Burr announced a select committee consisting of 2 Republicans, 2 Federalists, and 1 moderate, The New York Evening Post wrote, "The Vice President was very deliberate. He took ballots of the respective Senators, examined them attentively, state the number of them, & holding them up in his hand, mentioned that gentlemen, if they chose, might come and examine them. Mr. G[ouverneur] Morris hoped never to see, in the Senate, a proceeding implying so much distrust." And i'd love to tell you what political party the Evening Post was associated with, but I didn't know how to take notes in 2020, and I'm losing my mind just a little.

Burr continued to be estranged from his own party, possibly to form his own, but no one really liked him so, tough luck. Burr contacted Jefferson, saying that he thought it was best for him to retire for the sake of the party, and wanted Jefferson to publicly give him his confidence. Jefferson said he had no influence in the last election, but he would in the next, which is weird and foreboding but aight. Jefferson didn't trust Burr because he was pissy that Burr warned Madison not to trust people (ie Jefferson) too much.

Burr retired without Jefferson's "mark of favor", and was replaced as VP by Clinton. After leaving the vice-presidency, he entered the NY gubernatorial race to have some kind of a job, since he was majorly in debt.

*wipes sweat dramatically* okay so i think i'll have 1-2 more Burr posts, and then we're onto Lafayette, which is going to be significantly more extensive because I've read two full books about him, and taken notes on him. and THEN i have to do Hamilton which will be. even more extensive. but we got this. okay bye see you in the next one

[justalittlerandomartist]

Jefferson or Burr?

nah, its

Biden or Trump?

we know it’s lose-lose

[deadpresidents]

"I hope and confidently believe that you will be prepared to bear this event with calmness and composure, if not with indifference; that you will not suffer it to prey on your mind or affect your health. In your retirement you will have not only the consolation...that you have discharged all the duties of a virtuous citizen, but the genuine pleasure of reflecting that by the wisdom and firmness of your administration you left...[the] country in safe and honorable peace...In resisting...the violence of France, you saved the honor of the American name from disgrace...By sending the late mission you restored an honorable peace to the nation, without tribute, without bribes, without violating any previous engagements...You have, therefore, given the most decisive proof that...you were the man not of any party but of the whole nation."

-- John Quincy Adams, in a consoling letter written to his father, President John Adams, on November 25, 1800, after John Adams was defeated by Thomas Jefferson in his 1800 campaign for re-election.

Twenty-eight years later, John Quincy Adams would also be defeated in his campaign for re-election as President. During the first 50 years of the American Presidency, the only two Presidents who failed to win re-election were the Adams father and son.

[jamescheetham]

"I have two important objects before me, to reduce the government to republican principles & practices, & to heal the wounds of party. The first can be accomplished with the aid of that tide in the public spirit which now prevails. The second may be effected so far as regards the mass of citizens, whose intentions have been always pure. Their leaders [Federalists] are a hospital of incurables, and as such entitled to be protected and taken care of as other insane persons are."

Thomas Jefferson to William Hylton, 5 June 1801

[hamiltrash-thoughts]

POV: The election of 1800

Hamilton: Burr

Burr: Sir?

Hamilton: Is there anything you wouldn't do?

Burr: No, I'm-

Hamilton: And would it include you actually killing me if I vote for Jefferson?

Burr: Perhaps

Hamilton: ...

Burr: ... Probably

Hamilton: . . .

Burr: ... Most likely?

Hamilton:

Hamilton: Fuck it, I'm still voting for Jefferson