Jefferson's Second Revolution: The Election Crisis of 1800 and the Triumph of Republicanism

An "excellent" history of the tumultuous early years of American government, and a constitutional crisis sparked by the Electoral College (Booklist).

In the election of 1800, Federalist incumbent John Adams, and the elitism he represented, faced Republican Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson defeated Adams but, through a quirk in Electoral College balloting, tied with his own running mate, Aaron Burr. A constitutional crisis ensued. Congress was supposed to resolve the tie, but would the Federali...