Adams vs. Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800 is a wonderful addition to the Pivotal Moments in American History being published by the Oxford University Press. John Ferling does a superb job, in fairly short order, bringing the reader into the time when our nation was in its nascent stages - prior to political parties dominating the electoral landscape. He describes robustly and vividly the radically differing ideas between the Federalists and Anti Federalists (Republicans). The book traces the ideological roots of the struggle between those favoring a strong central government and those favoring a much loser confederation of states.
Both Adams and Jefferson are treated fairly and evenly by Ferling. Their growing differences and eventual break are covered well. This work clearly demonstrates that the American Revolution didn't end at Yorktown but, rather, continued as a political struggle through a clash of ideologies both in the press and on the ballot. Interestingly, it also shows the ugliness of current American politics is far from new. Some of the vitriol written then about the leaders of the time is alone worth the read.
The rather quick decline of the paternal and elitist Federalist Era is a topic that other authors seem to have trouble limiting their pages on. Ferling, while fairly thorough, is quick in his analysis. He traces the political struggle that led to the demise of Federalism in the contentious and pivotal election of 1800 back to and including the Revolution itself.
Ferling's writing is direct and highly engaging. "Unlike Adams, Jefferson had never wavered in his belief that the American Revolution had been a glorious success. The `flames kindled on the 4th of July 1776 have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines of despotism,' he remarked in 1821, adding that the `light and liberty are on a steady advance". In his final letter, written in 1826, Jefferson reiterated his belief that the American Revolution had been, and would continue to be, `the signal arousing men to burst the chains' that bound them and to secure the `blessings and security of self-government'".
This is one terrific book on a very interesting period in American history. I can't imagine anyone with any appreciation of our history not greatly enjoying it.
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