HIST 1100 Lecture 3: Early 1800s
Document Summary
Despite its (cid:374)a(cid:373)e, the (cid:862)re(cid:448)olutio(cid:374)(cid:863) of (cid:1005)8(cid:1004)(cid:1004) (cid:449)as (cid:374)ot a(cid:374) o(cid:448)erthro(cid:449)i(cid:374)g of the government or a series of violent rebellions sparked by the unrest and anger of groups of people. Rather, it was a metaphorical and figurative revolution, in the sense that it marked the first occurrence in american history of a different political faction being elected into power. The election of 1800 was not revolutionary in the sense of a massive popular upheaval or an upending of the political system, because jefferson had actually only narrowly gained victory. In fact, a switch of only about 250 votes in new york would have declared adams as the ele(cid:272)tio(cid:374)"s (cid:448)i(cid:272)tor. Jefferso(cid:374)"s i(cid:374)terpretatio(cid:374) of the election being revolutionary came from the idea that his victory marked a return to what he considered to be the original spirit of the revolution. The principle of judicial review is what granted the u. s. supreme the power that it currently possesses.