Why was the election of 1800 decided in the House of Representatives?
(1 point)
• The 12th Amendment required this process.
• No candidate received a majority in the Electoral College.
• Both candidates were from the same party.
• No candidate wanted to be vice president.
• No candidate received a majority in the Electoral College.
In the election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, both members of the Democratic-Republican Party, each received an equal number of electoral votes. Since there was no majority winner, the decision defaulted to the House of Representatives, as dictated by Article II, Section 1, Clause 3 of the Constitution (the 12th Amendment, which later changed the process, had not yet been passed or ratified). The tie in the Electoral College led to a contingent election in the House, where Thomas Jefferson was eventually chosen as President after 36 ballots.