Election of Thomas Jefferson

Definition

The election of Thomas Jefferson in 1800, also known as the "Revolution of 1800," was a significant event in American history. It marked the first peaceful transition of power between political parties (from Federalists to Democratic-Republicans) and set a precedent for future elections.

Analogy

Think about it like switching from an iPhone to an Android phone. Both have their unique features and followers, but the switch can be made smoothly without any chaos or violence. This is what happened when power shifted from Federalists to Democratic-Republicans during Jefferson's election.

Related terms

Federalist Party: A major political party in the early years of the United States' history that favored a strong central government and commercial economy.

Democratic-Republican Party: An early American political party that championed states' rights, agrarian interests, and strict interpretation of the Constitution.

Peaceful Transition of Power: The process where the outgoing president hands over control of all executive duties to the incoming president without any violence or upheaval.