Lesson Plan: Historic Presidential Elections – 1800 – John Adams vs. Thomas Jefferson

In the election of 1800, Vice President Thomas Jefferson of the Democratic-Republican Party defeated Federalist Party candidate and incumbent President John Adams in a contest that had to be decided by the U.S. House of Representatives. It was the first U.S. presidential election to be a rematch. In this lesson, students will view background videos to learn about what was occurring in the country leading into the 1800 election as well as the candidates who were running for the office of the presidency and their political parties. Students will explore the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams as well as their philosophies, and hear how campaigns were managed, how the voting process was conducted and how this election was determined after resulting in a tie. In conclusion, students will consider the legacies of this election and generate parallels to today.