Honesty is the First Chapter in the Book of Wisdom: An Alternate Election of 1800

[Anarch King of Dipsodes]

By the end of the session, the delegates would be shocked- none of the candidates had accomplished a majority in the electoral college, with Jefferson and Burr tied at 69- a single vote short of a majority. The news spread like wildfire from Washington, as the lame-duck Congress hastened back to decide the outcome of this highly contested election…

So the PoD is Georgia's fumble. The effect is that Jefferson and Burr are still tied, but have no majority. So the election goes to the House as OTL, except that the House has five candidates to choose from, not just two.

 

[TheSunKing]

So the PoD is Georgia's fumble. The effect is that Jefferson and Burr are still tied, but have no majority. So the election goes to the House as OTL, except that the House has five candidates to choose from, not just two.

Yes, exactly. And this is the lame duck house, that still retains a Federalist majority. Thus, to break the deadlock, Pinckney becomes President because he is palatable to both parties.

 

[TheSunKing]

Was Pinckney OTL opposed to the whole thing?

I extrapolated it from what I could find of Pinckney's personality and political beliefs.

 

[Anarch King of Dipsodes]

The Election of 1800​

The ballots cast by the House were very divisive. As the Constitution required a candidate to receive a two-thirds majority in order to win the Presidency...

Unfortunately for this interesting scenario, the Constitution does not require a rwo-thirds majority of states.

Article II, Section 1... But in chusing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having one Vote; a quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two-thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice.

However, all is not lost.

There were 16 states.

One state would be split: VT (1-1).

Federalists would control 7: CT, DE, GA, MA, MD, NH, RI.

Thus Republicans would control 8: KY, NC, NJ, NY, PA, SC, TN, VA, which is not a majority.

Unless some Representatives crossed over, no President could be elected. One could still have a deadlock!
(Though one F Representative from DE, GA, or VT could break it for the Republicans.)

 

[TheSunKing]

Unfortunately for this interesting scenario, the Constitution does not require a rwo-thirds majority of states.


However, all is not lost.

There were 16 states.

One state would be split: VT (1-1).

Federalists would control 7: CT, DE, GA, MA, MD, NH, RI.

Thus Republicans would control 8: KY, NC, NJ, NY, PA, SC, TN, VA, which is not a majority.

Unless some Representatives crossed over, no President could be elected. One could still have a deadlock!
(Though one F Representative from DE, GA, or VT could break it for the Republicans.)

Whoops! Thanks for the catch. Glad the scenario still works though. I will make the edits.

 

[mrmandias]

Your extrapolation of Pinckney's views seems very anachronistic--very modern sensibility. I doubt it extremely.