Essay on 1800s US Presidential Election: John Adams vs Thomas Jefferson

Introduction

"A Magnificent Catastrophe" by Edward J. Larson presents historical events that transpired in the 1800s in the US. The book has details regarding the first contested presidential election between the Federalist John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Larson (2007) wrote it to provide detailed information regarding the events that transpired among the founding fathers of America by going as far as delivering personal interactions among them and entertaining the audience to remain more interested in the timelines. Larson (2007) also portrays politicians as friendly and fierce people amongst themselves as they compete to stay relevant in governance. The utterances of politicians do not seem to match their actions, which are influenced by personal and political beliefs about the future of America. Therefore, Larson (2007) provides a platform for understanding American history and the emergence of democratic presidential campaigns and elections that shaped the country, and this study will revolve around reviewing "A magnificent Catastrophe."

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Critical Book Review

"A Magnificent Catastrophe" begins by painting the picture of how the American political atmosphere existed between the 1700s and 1800s (Larson, 2007). As established by Larson (2007), the book showcases how politicians could "write like angels and scheme like demons." According to the quote, the contesting presidential candidates would pretend to be very reasonable when addressing matters to the population. However, their honesty was not real because they tried all schemes to emerge victorious in the election.

As a legal scholar and historian involved in various cases of research, Edward J. Larson has a rich understanding and interest in American history, including the aspects that transpired during the 1800s (Larson, 2007). His interest in the early history of America provides a platform for showcasing his understanding of various political viewpoints and how politicians got into power. However, it is crucial to note that historians are sometimes biased in their analysis of issues. Therefore, some of the views provided in "A Magnificent Catastrophe" can be said to be Larson's perspective of understanding history (Larson, 2007). In this regard, the reason for Larson to write the book can be evaluated in threefold. First, Larson had an interest in exploring American political history to support his career and gain an in-depth understanding of presidential elections in America. Secondly, he could have sought to write the book in an attempt to contribute to American history and help his students relate to his perspective. Lastly, he could have had the pleasure of writing about different topics and wrote the book as part of his contribution to society and giving different views that other history books do not provide.

Larson's book has certain positive aspects that cannot be derived from other historical books. He focuses on narrating the personal lives of Adams and Jefferson during the 1800 presidential election (Larson, 2007). For instance, other books do not clearly show how close Jefferson and Adams were even before they started working together. According to the narration, the two contestants were friends from before, and their political rivalry was different from their engagements. As a result, the audience gets a clear picture of the real aspects that led to the differences between Jefferson and Adams.

The catastrophe in America is seen during the attempt to succeed President Washington in 1796. According to the situation, the American constitution had no provisions for the democratic campaign and vying for the presidency. The federalists under the leadership of Adams as the president experienced opposition from the republicans led by vice president Jefferson. The latter had been the former's vice president for four years. Interestingly, Jefferson led an opposing republican within the government with differing political views about federalists who pushed for the British monarch style of governance. According to the republicans, the federalists were betraying revolution and democracy. The federalists were also accused of encouraging standing army and sponsoring the Allen and Sedition Acts, and the religion. As noted from the analysis, the federalists dismissed the Republicans' accusations by blaming them about their godlessness. According to Adam's administration, the Republicans did not focus on creating cohesion among people and instead only wanted a liberal society. Adams was of the view that the republicans were blindly concerned about the French revolution without thinking about the national defense and how people should have been encouraged to lead a religious life that respects lives. The campaign was characterized by witch-hunting, including the use of propaganda and media to distort information. Surprisingly, Jefferson would later lose grip after his close allies defected him due to trust issues leading to the presidency of Thomas Jefferson.

Positive and Negative Aspects of the Book

The negative aspects portrayed in the book include the lack of cultural and intellectual history. The author concentrates too much on narrating the political episodes between the federalists and the republican. As a result, cultural and intellectual aspects during the 1800s are not detailed. It is crucial to understand that cultural and intellectual aspects in the 1800s played a significant role in influencing the presidential election. Individuals that led different movements during the period have their details slightly noted without showcasing their influence as kingmakers. For instance, Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and Samuel Adams, among others, were highly involved in shaping the politics of the time. However, Larson mentions very little about them. The catastrophe portrayed is based on the confusion that was experienced during the electioneering period. Larson, however, does not provide an explicit analysis of the events and timeline. Instead, he focuses on a gripping narrative that depicts how the events unfolded. Larson positively manages to give a picture of what entailed the 1800 presidential campaign and election by making it easy to understand the plot in his book. The audience can relate the events experienced during the period to the current political practices. For instance, he portrays divisive tactics utilized by politicians to outdo their competitors. The use of media to spread propaganda is also well depicted in the book and relates to current practices that the audience can easily understand.

Historical and Contemporary Views

The book is well documented to present both contemporary and historical views. The author uses events that occurred in the 1700s and 1800s to depict historical aspects relevant to American history. The contemporary views are provided by comparing historical and current matters happening in the political arena. In this regard, the book can be utilized in devising mechanisms for surviving in politics by winning the trust of people. For instance, Adam is portrayed as a president who wanted to hinder democracy by adopting a dynasty that relied on tyranny despite his unpopular policies and leadership style. Such leadership could be compared to American King George III's, which denotes historical aspects. However, Jefferson is portrayed to work against such a move by pushing for democratic leadership that allows liberalization. The current leadership can be related to Jefferson's push for revolution and democracy.

Things to Add or Take out of the Book

Larson has managed to write a crucial book that helps the audience understand about one of the most regarded elections in the history of America. However, it would be better if details such as the roles played by kingmakers in helping Jefferson take over the leadership would be included. The cultural and economic aspects witnessed during the period can also add value to the book because the audience would understand how the two contesting leaders viewed such issues and the response of citizens. The book is captivating, and it would not help to eradicate important materials. However, dramatic aspects can be minimized for the book to serve its historical and contemporary purpose of American political history.

Adding to Knowledge of the American System of Politics

Besides, Larson has written a book that has greatly contributed to my understanding of American politics. For instance, I have understood the role played by Jefferson in curbing the adoption of a monarch system of leadership. Also, I have noted that tactical politics are crucial in winning an election, and a candidate should focus on popular ideas to win the hearts of people. Therefore, I would recommend anyone seeking to understand the American system of politics to read Larson's book since it provides historical and current tactics used in politics.

Conclusion

Larson provides a platform for understanding American history and the emergence of democratic presidential campaigns and elections that shaped the country, and this study has revolved around reviewing "A magnificent Catastrophe." Larson's book is about the 1800 presidential election in America and how Adams and Jefferson utilized political tactics in their contest. The federal government under Adams was defeated by Jefferson's republican movement leading to a revolution in America. The period was characterized by catastrophic events that threatened the future of America, and various leaders played roles in solving the situation. Larson succeeds in providing contemporary and historical views about American politics, and the book is crucial for any person interested in the same. Further evaluation of this topic should focus on understanding how the events of the 1800 presidential election affected the economic, social, and political future of America.

Reference

Larson, E. J. (2007). A magnificent catastrophe: the tumultuous election of 1800, America's first presidential campaign. Simon and Schuster.