The 2016 election has been surrounded by scandals and controversy. With both candidates taking a part in much debated events, like insulting the parents of a fallen soldier, or sending classified emails using a private server, it seems like each week is going to be more scandalous than the previous. This historical election may seem like the tip of the iceberg for an inevitable downfall, but we’ve been here before.
During the election of 1800, many of topics considered important today were focused on. These topics included states' rights and foreign policy, but instead of dealing with the Middle East, the United States had conflicts with the French after they had seized American ships in 1798. This even created the mentality behind the Alien and Sedition Act.
At the center of this election, were Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson and Federalist John Adams. John Adams was up for re-election, and his own party had started to turn against after deciding to send in ships to end the conflict with the French. Knowing that his party was starting to have second thoughts, Adams and his campaign started attacking Jefferson and the Democratic -Republicans, painting a picture of terror and tyranny if Jefferson was elected.
Jefferson was also Adams’ Vice-President during his original presidential term, which continued to strain the relationship of the two politicians as the election process continued.
On the other side, Jefferson and the Democratic- Republicans were angry at the new taxes placed by the Federalists, and the anti-French ideals behind the Alien and Sedition Act.
As the election continued, both candidates continued to attack each other in the press and their actions became the first evidence of negative campaigning. Like the candidates today, Jefferson and Adams were not afraid to hurl insults or name call. Jefferson’s campaign accused John Adams of being a hermaphrodite, describing his characteristics as "hideous hermaphroditical character, which has neither the force and firmness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman."
Responding to these attacks, Adams called Jefferson "a mean-spirited, low-lived fellow, the son of a half-breed Indian squaw, sired by a Virginia mulatto father."
Eventually, Jefferson and his team worked to convince the American people that Adams wanted to attack France. Even though this rumor was not true, the damage was already done and Jefferson won the election.
However, Jefferson’s dirty tactics caught up to him, and the individual who helped dig up dirt on Adams also caused trouble for Jefferson.
This individual was James Callender, and after developing the rumor about Adams, he was jailed for libel. After being released, Callender believed Jefferson owed him. When Jefferson failed to compromise, Callender released a story that continues to impact Jefferson’s reputation to this day.
In 1802, Callender published a story claiming that Jefferson was having an affair with one of his slaves named Sally Hemings. Callender also wrote that Hemings had given birth to a number of Jefferson’s children. Even though some historians believed this to be another part of the negative campaigning, DNA testing in 1998 showed a connection between Hemings’ descendants and Jefferson’s family.
The election of 1800 also established the distinction between the two political parties. Thomas Jefferson became the first Democratic- Republican president. Over time, the Democratic- Republican party developed into the modern Democratic party and the Federalists evolved into the Republican party.
Despite their antagonistic relationship with each other during this election, Jefferson and Adams eventually became good friends. Prior to the election, the two men had already been friends, having met the first time at the 1775 Continental Congress.
Their ideals and policies eventually caused a rift in their friendship and the two had remained adversaries during Jefferson’s two terms.
After a discussion with a mutual friend, the two decided to rekindle their friendship and wrote to each other until their deaths. The two reconnected over their contributions to the growing nation, religion and philosophy.
On July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson and Adams died within five hours of each other. According to his family, Adams’ last words were “Thomas Jefferson survives.”
At the end of the 2016 election, it is hard to say if the two candidates will develop the same correspondence and friendship that Jefferson and Adams did, but like the election of 1800, this will be an event for the history books.