America afire
Subtitle: Jefferson, Adams, and the revolutionary election of 1800
By: Bernard A. Weisberger.
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: William Morrow
Published: 2000
Place of publication: New York, NY
Language: eng
Number of pages: 345
Subjects: Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826.; Adams, John, 1735-1826.; Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1800.; Contested elections -- United States -- History -- 19th century.; United States -- Politics and government -- 1797-1801.
Other titles: Jefferson, Adams, and the revolutionary election of 1800
Description: "America Afire is the powerful story of the election of 1800, arguably the most important election in America's history and certainly one of the most hotly disputed. American self-government was still an endangered experiment seventeen years after the War of Independence had been won. As 1800 dawned, the sacrifices and fraternity of "the spirit of '76" had vanished, replaced by bitter and angry rivalries.

Former Allies Adams and Jefferson, president and vice president, now Federalist versus Republican, squared off in a vicious contest to win the fourth presidential election under the Constitution.".

"Ultimately, the surprise is not that problems arose, but that the United States emerged from them a stronger nation. For when Adams stepped down from the presidency peacefully in 1801, it was the first time in modern history that a leader had voluntarily turned over power to his political enemy. This was truly a revolution and a triumph for democracy "made in America.""--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [323]-326) and index.