Thomas Jefferson/ Aaron Burr Bumper Sticker

What was the importance of this election?

The election of 1800 was one of the most controversial in American history, and was marked with intrigue, betrayals, and a tie in the electoral college.  The 1800 election was the first time candidates campaigned, though the campaigning was very subdued by modern standards.  The conflicted result of the 1800 election revealed a serious flaw in the US Constitution.  The fractious outcome of the 1800 election led to the passage and ratification of the Twelfth Amendment, which changed the way the electoral college functioned.