I’m working on a history discussion question and need guidance to help me learn.Choose 1 question. Write a response. Grammar and spelling absolutely count.
Please make sure to use citations.
Do not use outside sources. Only use sources from the class.
Length: 500-1000 words.
Do you think the Revolution of 1800 revolutionary? Please use only class resources to back up your argument. class mate response
Because of the exchange of political power between parties without conflict, in context of the French Revolution, and the changes in government that followed, the Revolution of 1800 was indeed revolutionary. The nation had originated as a colony from a region only known to respect government in the form of various monarchies (at the time).
The establishment of an individual leader that followed a body had existed, such as in Britain, but the leader actively choosing to step down based on the democratic wishes of the nation’s citizens had yet to be seen.When Washington was declared president after serving as general for the Continental Army, political parties were nonexistent. However, by the time John Addams served, the Federalist and the Democratic-Republican parties had formed due to conflict over the new U.S. Constitution and states rights. Clear divisions between the two existed: Federalists valued a centralized and unified federal government, while Democratic-Republicans focused on states’ rights against the federal government to avoid falling into oligarchy.
In the context of the French Revolution also occurring during this time, each party favored different opinions on the events in France and America’s role in it (despite Washington’s call for neutrality). This division is shown in political writings, such as those by revolutionary veteran William Manning of Massachusetts in 1798, “…this has not discouraged that party. They are yet in hopes of effecting by bribery and corruption what they cannot do by force of arms.”. Democratic-Republicans and Federalists openly attacked each other in media and public debates. Addams made no secret his distaste for harsh criticism with the Sedition Act, which fueled Democratic fear even more so than before to the point of its repeal. Yet the Election of 1800 showed a peaceful change in power between the two parties despite such avid dislike.After a tied popular and electoral vote, the results for the Election of 1800 were given after numerous attempts to break the tie in House voting; Jefferson had won with Aaron Burr as his vice president. Jefferson’s inaugural address touches on the party divisions in order to attempt to unite their thoughts under beliefs of liberty, since this shift in power was unprecedented, “…every difference of opinion is not is not a difference of principle.
We are all republicans: we are all federalists.”. Excluding backlash on his victory in newspapers and other federalist sources at the time, there was no challenge to his position. Other conflicts that resulted from the shift in power included that of Aaron Burr, who was the second victim to an election flaw that made the runner-up of the election vice president. Jefferson and Burr did not get along as they followed different political belief systems, resulting in the 12thamendment. This established our election process today: the president and vice president run together as a pair from the same party to avoid stagnant presidential action.
This is also significant because, when compared with other changes in government occurring internationally, France seemed to be doing the opposite. Europe watched how both the battles and deaths occur in France and the peaceful change of power in the U.S. contrasted greatly while trying to reach the same goal. America showed national maturity while France scrambled to find a system rather clumsily. Both set precedents for political power shifts and future parties.
