Exhibits
From Bullets to Ballots: The Election of 1800 - Chronology
Chronology
| 1776 | Declaration of Independence; war with Britain until 1782 |
| 1777 | Articles of Confederation (first United States Constitution) written by Continental Congress; ratified by each state (the last one in 1781) |
| 1778 | Wartime treaty of alliance with France |
| 1783 | Formal peace treaty with Britain |
| 1787 | New constitution written by convention in Philadelphia |
| 1787-1788 | Constitution ratified, after debates in each state between proponents (Federalists) and opponents (Antifederalists). Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay write The Federalist Papers as a contribution to the campaign for ratification. |
| 1788 | First congressional and presidential elections |
| 1789 | First Congress and President George Washington’s first administration begin, with Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury and Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State. -Bill of Rights (Amendments 1-10) adopted -Congressman James Madison unsuccessfully proposes trade war with Britain. |
| 1790 | Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton successfully proposes federal takeover (“assumption”) of states’ war debts. |
| 1791 | Hamilton’s proposal for National Bank approved |
| 1792 | Republican party initiates first national partisan campaigns, in congressional elections. |
| 1793 | News of execution of King of France reaches United States. -War between France and Britain (which continues with little pause until 1815) |
| 1795 | Jay Treaty between United States and Britain |
| 1796 | Washington’s Farewell Address; Republican party now contests presidential as well as congressional elections. |
| 1797 | President John Adams’ administration begins. |
| 1798-1800 | Naval “quasi-war” with France |
| 1798 | Congress passes Alien and Sedition Acts; Thomas Jefferson and James Madison secretly draft Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. |
| 1800-1801 | Republicans win big majorities in House and Senate elections. |
| December 1800 | Republicans narrowly win presidential election, with electoral college tie between Jefferson and his running mate, Aaron Burr. |
| February 1801 | After a week of balloting, House of Representatives chooses Jefferson as President. |
| March 1801 | Peaceful transfer of power to Republicans; Jefferson’s First Inaugural Address |