UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, 1804

The 'United States presidential election of 1804' pitted incumbent Democratic-Republican President Thomas Jefferson against Federalist Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. Jefferson easily defeated Pinckney in the first presidential election conducted following the ratification of the Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Under the rules of the Twelfth Amendment, presidential electors were required to specify in their votes their choice for President and Vice President; previously, electors voted only for President, with the person who came in second becoming the Vice President. George Clinton was elected Vice President and would go on to serve under both Jefferson and his successor, James Madison.

Contents

Background

General election

Results

Electoral college selection

See also

References

Navigation

Background

Although the 1800 election had been close, Jefferson had steadily gained popularity during his term. American trade had boomed because the French Revolutionary Wars in Europe had been temporarily suspended. The Louisiana Purchase was heralded as a great achievement.

General election

Jefferson was renominated and Governor George Clinton of New York replaced Aaron Burr as his running mate. The Federalists chose Pinckney and former United States Senator Rufus King of New York to run against him. Attacks on Jefferson's policies proved fruitless; Jefferson's victory was overwhelming, even winning most of the states in the Federalist heartland of New England.

Results

'Source (Popular Vote):' U.S. President National Vote. ''Our Campaigns''. (February 10, 2006).
'Source (Electoral Vote):'
^(a) ''Only 11 of the 17 states chose electors by popular vote.''

^(b) ''Those states that did choose electors by popular vote had widely varying restrictions on suffrage via property requirements.''

Electoral college selection

-Since this election, Vermont continued to vote for Jefferson' party in future Presidential elections.

See also

★ History of the United States (1789-1849)

References

★ A Historical Analysis of the Electoral College

★ A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787-1825

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