Celebrating the Fourth

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The Contentious Election of 1800

History has remembered the Election of 1800, pitting John Adams against Thomas Jefferson, as a bitterly contested—some might say nasty—affair. Historian Edward Larson shares the story of this unprecedented campaign, the surprising results that nearly tore our young nation apart, and the behind-the-scenes maneuvering that ultimately led to the first peaceful transfer of power in American history.

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A Nation Divided: Election of 1800

"the revolution of 1800...was as real a revolution in the principles of our government as that of 76 was in it's form..."
-Thomas Jefferson, 6 September 1819