At this time, the Democratic-Republican party
was determined to have Mr. Jefferson for President and Aaron Burr
for Vice-President. They both received seventy-three votes, a
majority of all the votes. But since the number was equal, it
devolved upon the House of Representatives to determine whether
Jefferson or Burr should be President. For seven days the House was
in continuous session, and civil war threatened. On the
thirty-sixth ballot, however, Jefferson received the votes of ten
States out of sixteen, and was elected.
In order to prevent a recurrence of the conditions which obtained
in 1796, or of the dangers incident to a contest like that of 1800,
the Twelfth Amendment was proposed by Congress, and, after
ratification, was declared in force September 25, 1804. This
provides, as we have seen, that the electoral votes must be cast
separately for President and Vice-President.
The Presidential Term.
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