Jefferson Quote by David McCullough
““What was surprising--and would largely be forgotten as time went on--was how well Adams had done. Despite the malicious attacks on him, the furor over the Alien and Sedition Acts, unpopular taxes, betrayals by his own cabinet, the disarray of the Federalists, and the final treachery of Hamilton, he had, in fact, come very close to winning in the electoral count. With a difference of only 250 votes in New York City, Adams would have won an electoral count of 71 to 61. So another of the ironies of 1800 was that Jefferson, the apostle of agrarian America who loathed cities, owed his ultimate political triumph to New York.””
About This Quote
Source Book: John Adams, 2001
Adams narrowly lost due to a small vote margin, highlighting how unexpected factors can decide outcomes.
In simple terms: A tiny vote difference changed history.
Key Takeaway
Pay attention to every vote and detail.
Themes
political history
chance
election dynamics
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
historical
educational
When to use this quote
- campaign strategy
- voting education
- historical research
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
electoral systems
historical irony
leadership
Questions to Reflect On
- How might a different state have altered the result?
- What does this teach about the power of small margins?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on single events can ignore broader trends.
![“Deeply versed in history, [John Adams] said over and over that America had no special providence, no special role in history, that Americans were no different from other peoples, that the United States was just as susceptible to viciousness and corruption as any other nation. In this regard, at…” quote by Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0d/gordon-s-wood-13199_america_deeply-versed-in-history-john-adams-said_940303.jpg)
![“The relationship between [John] Adams and [Tomas] Jefferson was extraordinary. They differed on every conceivable issue, except on the Revolution and the love of their country.” quote by Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/423/gordon-s-wood-13199_country_the-relationship-between-john-adams-and_1333640.jpg)
![“[John] Adams's perception of Europe, and especially France, was clearly different than [Tomas] Jefferson's. For Jefferson, the luxury and sophistication of Europe only made American simplicity and virtue appear dearer. For Adams, by contrast, Europe represented what America was fast becoming - a…” quote by Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8c0/gordon-s-wood-13199_america_john-adams-s-perception-of-europe-and-es_579328.jpg)
![“Thomas Jefferson High School [..] His high school was named after a slave owner who was also one of the world’s greatest theoreticians on the subject of human liberty.” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/73a/kurt-vonnegut-41_freedom_thomas-jefferson-high-school-his-high-sc_9727.jpg)
![“Every answer he [President John Adams] gives to his addressers unmasks more and more his principles and views. His language to the young men at Philadelphia is the most abominable and degrading that could fall from the lips of the first magistrate of an independent people, and particularly from a…” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0eb/james-madison-373_answers_every-answer-he-president-john-adams-giv_176611.jpg)
