Summary
The Presidential Election of 1804 was the first presidential election conducted under the Twelfth Amendment, which required electors to cast separate votes for President and Vice President. It was also the fifth election held for the Office of President. Democratic-Republican candidates Thomas Jefferson and George Clinton defeated Federalist candidates Charles C. Pinckney and Rufus King by winning 92% of the electoral vote. The outcome showed the growing strength of the Democratic-Republican Party and signaled the decline of the Federalist Party. Jefferson’s victory extended the “Age of Jefferson,” which focused on republicanism, agriculture, and a strict interpretation of the United States Constitution, known as “Jeffersonian Democracy.” It also extended the Virginia Dynasty.
Facts
- Dates: November 2–December 5, 1804.
- Primary Candidates for President: Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican), Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (Federalist).
- Primary Candidates for Vice-President: George Clinton (Democratic-Republican), Rufus King (Federalist).
- Outcome: Jefferson was reelected President, while Clinton was elected Vice President.
- Part of: United States Presidential Elections, Jefferson Administration.
Impact of the Twelfth Amendment
- The Election of 1804 was the first presidential election held under the recently ratified Twelfth Amendment.
- The Twelfth Amendment required electors to vote separately for President and Vice President.
- Thomas Jefferson was the Democratic-Republican candidate for President.
- George Clinton was the Democratic-Republican nominee for Vice President.
Outcome
- The Democratic-Republicans defeated the Federalist candidates, Charles C. Pinckney and Rufus King.
- Jefferson and Clinton won 92% of the electoral vote.
- Only the electors from Connecticut and Delaware voted for the Federalist ticket.
- The election results showed the Federalist Party was quickly declining.
Significance
The Presidential Election of 1804 is important to American History because it was the first presidential election held under the Twelfth Amendment, which changed how electors voted for President and Vice President. The election outcome and Thomas Jefferson’s reelection showed the nation’s growing frustration with his political rivals in the Federalist Party.
AP US History
Alignment
The Presidential Election of 1804 is part of the following units, topics, and chapters in the AP US History curriculum:
Terms
Electoral College — The body that meets every four years to elect the President and Vice President of the United States, in a process established by Article II of the Constitution. Each State in the Union has delegates, or Electors, who cast ballots for both offices. The number of Electors for each state is determined by the number of members it has in the two houses of Congress. Today, most Electors are required to cast their votes for the candidates who win their state’s popular vote.
Federalist Party — Established by Alexander Hamilton in 1791, it was the first political party in the United States. Federalists were advocates of a strong national government and a broad interpretation of powers granted to the Federal Government by the United States Constitution. The party declined in the early 19th Century due to internal divisions, opposition to the War of 1812, and a shift in public opinion towards their rivals, the Democratic-Republicans.
Democratic-Republican Party — Founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in 1972, it opposed the Federalist Party and was the second political party in the United States. The Democratic-Republicans favored a strict interpretation of the Constitution, a weak central government, and strong state governments. The party split in the mid-1820s, and a faction that emerged from it exists today as the modern Democratic Party.
First Party System — The name given to the nation’s first system of political parties, in which the Federalist Party clashed with the Democratic-Republican Party over how to protect the United States during the Federalist Era, when the French Revolution (1789–1799) threatened stability in Europe. The rivalry between the two parties contributed to the outbreak of the War of 1812 with Britain. It was followed by the Second Party System in the 1830s.
Twelfth Amendment — A constitutional amendment that was adopted following the Presidential Election of 1800, in which Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, both members of the Democratic-Republican Party, received the same number of votes from the Electoral College. At the time, electors cast two votes in a single election for President. The person who received the most votes became President, while the runner-up became Vice President. After ratification, the Twelfth Amendment required separate votes for President and Vice President, which helped create the modern “ticket” system.
Virginia Dynasty — The Virginia Dynasty refers to the election of Virginians as President in eight of the first nine Presidential Elections. The Presidents who were part of the Virginia Dynasty were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. The Virginia Dynasty ended with the election of John Quincy Adams in 1824.
Jeffersonian Democracy — Jeffersonian Democracy refers to the ideology of the Democratic-Republican Party during the presidencies of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. This ideology focused on a strict interpretation of the United States Constitution, personal responsibility to remain virtuous and resist corruption, protection of personal liberties, and the promotion of agriculture.
Age of Jefferson (1800–1824) — The Age of Jefferson was an era that promoted the ideals of “Jeffersonian Democracy,” including a strict interpretation of the United States Constitution, adherence to republican principles, and the promotion of agriculture. It was highlighted by the decline of the Federalist Party during the First Party System, which allowed the Democratic-Republicans to usher in the “Era of Good Feelings.” The Presidents during this era were Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. Key events were the Revolution of 1800, the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Marbury v. Madison decision, the War of 1812, and the issuance of the Monroe Doctrine.
