The electoral system broke down in the election of 1800 because of the
a. rise of political parties.
b. 12th Amendment.
c. use of the national convention as a nominating device.
d. appearance of a presidential primary.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is a. rise of political parties.
In the election of 1800, the United States experienced a breakdown in the electoral system due to the rise of political parties. The election revealed significant flaws in the original method of electing the president and vice president, which had been outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Initially, each elector cast two votes, with the candidate receiving the most votes becoming president and the second-place candidate becoming vice president. This system was designed without anticipating the development of political parties.
In 1800, Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, and Aaron Burr, also a Democratic-Republican, both received the same number of electoral votes. However, the Federalists, led by John Adams, were also running. The Constitution did not account for the possibility of party affiliation, which led to a deadlock between Jefferson and Burr, both of whom had secured 73 electoral votes. This tied result was problematic because the Constitution did not specify how to break such a tie.
The election was ultimately decided by the House of Representatives after several votes, with Jefferson emerging as the victor. The deadlock and subsequent confusion highlighted the need for reform. In response, the 12th Amendment was passed in 1804, which required electors to cast separate votes for president and vice president, resolving the issues caused by the rise of political parties. The event exposed flaws in the early electoral system, particularly when political party affiliations influenced the outcome of an election, prompting changes to ensure smoother future elections.