The Tactics of The Political Campaign of 1804
The planning of the monumental political campaign was created in early 1804, as presidential elections today.
Party organizations were created in each state. In October 1801, instructions were given to the party organizers in each city. These political campaign committees were told to make a list of all persons entitled to cote in their villages, especially those who may consider themselves Republicans. The committees were told to hold a private meeting with Republicans to discuss with them the importance of ensuring that republican principles were kept in the local government. The committees were also told to try to ensure that the republican journals were distributed in their cities. These organizations first campaign was the basis of the structure of the local party.
In 1804, when Thomas Jefferson was seeking reelection, his party, reminded voters of the failures of the Federalist President John Adams and provided a list of Jefferson’s achievements during his four years in office. These include reducing taxes, eliminating several thousand jobs wasteful government, reducing the national debt, peacekeeping, and the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. This is an interesting note that apart from the Louisiana Purchase, many characteristics similar claims in the current presidential political campaign.
Tags: campaign committees, louisiana territory, party organizers, president john adams, wasteful governmentThe Political Campaign of 1804
For the political campaign of 1804, it became clear that Thomas Jefferson once again be the party’s candidate for president. GOP leaders decided to focus on his running mate.
The Twelfth Amendment was not ratified yet (although ultimately it would be ratified before the elections), so had not yet established a system of appointment of the president and vice president on a single ballot. Instead, the old system was still in use. Who received the largest number of electoral votes became president, and the runner-up would be vice president. The Republicans wanted to select a potential vice president who was popular and attractive enough to overcome all the other candidates, but not so strong that he would get more votes than Jefferson.
Aaron Burr, vice president of Jefferson in his first term, was not considered for the ticket of the political campaign this time. Burr and Jefferson had originally tied elections of 1800, and Jefferson had questioned the loyalty of always Burr and largely ignored during the first quarter. While serving as vice president, Burr ran for election for governor of New York, but was defeated. Later, he was involved in a duel with Alexander Hamilton that resulted in the death of Hamilton.
In February 1804, a group of Republicans met and appointed a committee of men whose aim was “to promote the success of Republican candidates.” Thirteen men were elected to the Committee: Seven were Senators, six were members of the House of Representatives, and were from 13 different states. His mission was not only to ensure the reelection of Thomas Jefferson, but also to ensure that his vice president was a Republican support.
This was a breakthrough in political campaigns, as this group of 13 men represents the first formal organization of the National Party set to elect a president and vice president. Final choice for the party candidate for vice president was the governor of New York, George Clinton. In addition to his experience and his political role, Clinton said the geographical balance of a list whose presidential candidate came from Virginia.
Tags: gop leaders, number of electoral votes, political campaigns, thirteen men, vice president burr