The Franklin Mint History Of The United States, 1776-1973
Manufacturer
The Franklin Mint
CultureAmerican
DateNo Date
MediumSilver
DimensionsOverall: 1 3/4 in. (45 mm.)
Credit LineGift of Dr. Eugene F. Poutasse
Object number76.81.26
Not on view
DescriptionOne of collection of 200 silver medals.The 1801 medal: Election of Jefferson Decided by Congress
The election of 1800 resulted in a tied electoral vote. Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr each had 73 votes, John Adams had 65, Charles Pickney had 64, and John Jay had 1. Those who voted for Jefferson assumed that Burr was to be Vice President; Jefferson and Burr thought likewise. Jefferson expected one vote in South Carolina would be switched which Burr had separately arranged that a vote be dropped from him in Rhode Island. Neither vote was changed. Had they been, Jefferson would have been President by an electoral majority of one or two votes.
Article II, Section 1 of the U.S Constitution directs that a tie vote for President be decided by ballot in the House of Representatives. Congress convened on February 11, 1801. By February 14 the members from each State were still deadlocked; 33 ballots had been taken, with eight States for Jefferson, six for Burr, and two States, Vermont and Maryland, casting blanks because their own delegations were evenly divided.
The Federalists sought to give their votes to the man most likely to continue their policies and men in office. Although Jefferson later denied that any bargain had been made, on Monday, February 17, when Congress reconvened there was a switch in votes. Members from Vermont and Maryland who previously had voted for Burr withdrew, giving those States to Jefferson. Delaware and South Carolina cast blank ballots. This gave Jefferson a majority of ten States to four for Burr, and he was declared the winner on the 36th ballot in this bitterly contested election.
