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EvanTh  1yr ago (papyrusrampant.substack.com)   Edited 1yr ago   1186 thread views

The Election of 1800: A Perspective on Political Messes

papyrusrampant.substack.com

Hello again Mottizans! I haven't been here much lately, but one of the reasons is that I've started a blog, Papyrus Rampant, where I blog on "story, history, and theory of story" - or, literature and history.

I've got a post this weekend which I think is rather appropriate here: The US Presidential election of 1800 as a perspective on political messes. It's posted today in honor of Presidents' Day, and also in honor of the anniversary of when the House of Representatives finally settled the election. The campaign, and people's fears about the contested election results, reminds me of modern elections in several surprising ways - and I think it can give us some perspective.

This week in 1801, on February 17th, the US Presidential Election of 1800 was finally settled.  Thomas Jefferson would be President, in the first peaceful transfer of power between opposing political parties in the United States federal government.

As you can tell from how long it had been since Election Day, the election of 1800 was a mess.  It was a mess in several ways, some of which sound surprisingly modern despite the country barely being ten years old at the time.  But still - despite all the fears of people at the time, what actually transpired was nothing like what either side had feared.  More than that, it was a triumph:  the first transfer of power between opposing parties in the United States.

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The first test was when the first President, George Washington, abided by the Constitution and stepped down from office

There was no constitutional requirement for Washington to not seek another term. He created a custom that was respected until FDR. After FDR, there was an amendment.

You're right. The important part was that voluntarily stepped down from office. And, given that he historically died before Adam's first (and only) term was finished, I think it was very important that he stepped down when he did rather than wait and die in office.

I think there were two aspects to Washington's example in retiring that set important precedents, but only one gets much attention--the two term limit. His other example was not dying in office. Later presidents died of illness or assassination, but FDR broke both parts of Washington's example--more than two terms, and refusing to leave office until death forced the issue. Had Washington run for one more term, he would not have set the precedent "only three terms," he'd have established "hold power until death or the electorate remove it from you."

Whoa, submission statement!

Bare link posts without any submission statement should be banned honestly.

Thank you for your service.

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