Election of 1800

The “Election of 1800” is a simulation game based on the tumultuous period in U.S. History
1789-1800. Each of you will play an important role in this game. Some students will be political
leaders: John Adams, Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson, or Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. Other
students will play members of political blocs (interest groups) of the period: Kentucky
frontiersmen, Massachusetts merchants, New York City artisans, Pennsylvania industrialists,
South Carolina federalist leaders, or Virginia plantation owners. The decisions of the political
blocs will determine the winner of the election.
While you know that Thomas Jefferson won the election of 1800; in our simulation, any of the
candidates can win. The objective of the game is for each candidate to get as many “plus votes”
as possible and as few “negative votes” as possible so that he can keep support of the political
blocs.
Leaders
- Aaron Burr
- John Adams
- Thomas Jefferson
- Charles Cotesworth Pinckney

Political Blocs
- Kentucky frontiersmen
- Massachusetts merchants
- New York City artisans
- Pennsylvania industrialists
- South Carolina Federalist leaders
- Virginia plantation owners

The Game
Before the game begins, design name tags or placards which indicate your position in the game.
1.) Political candidates must respond to the crises listed below:
a.) Whiskey Rebellion
b.) Jay and Pinckney Treaties
Special thanks to Bayard Faithfull, my instructor at TC, who introduced me to this
idea and many more “alternate models.”
 c.) Alien and Sedition Acts

2.) Each of the four political leaders will prepare a short speech, which will deal with his
solution to the crisis. This two-minute speech will be delivered to the class and the
candidate will have to answer questions from the political blocs and other candidates
after the speech.

3.) After the speeches, the leaders will wander around the room to buttonhole various
political blocs to convince the blocs to vote for them.
4.) The political blocs will meet separately and decide which candidate they will vote for and
against (each bloc gets one “plus” vote and one “negative” vote).
5.) The political blocs will publicly announce their votes with an explanation for their
decision. These votes will be tallied by the teacher.
6.) REPEAT steps 1-5 for the three crises. [In order to maximize participation, it is
recommended that the candidates are represented by different students in different crises.
Example – John Adams is represented by Tiffany for the Whiskey Rebellion, Mike for
the Jay and Pinckney Treaties, Joe for the Alien and Sedition Acts].
7.) The candidate with the most voting blocs at the end of the crises wins.
8.) Debrief.

Assignments
1.) Pre-paper:

a.) Political leaders – write a one-two page paper on your position for your assigned
crisis (which you will present in your speech).
b.) Political blocs – write a one-two page paper explaining your position each of the
crises (which you will use to help determine which candidate gets your vote).

2.) Post-paper:

a.) Political leaders – write a one page paper examining your success as a candidate.
Explain what political tactics/arguments were successful and unsuccessful and why.
b.) Political blocs – write a one page paper examining your votes. What political leaders
persuaded you and why? How did they meet your needs/interests?

Special thanks to Bayard Faithfull, my instructor at TC, who introduced me to this

idea and many more “alternate models.”
Special thanks to Bayard Faithfull, my instructor at TC, who introduced me to this
idea and many more “alternate models.”