"The Election of 1800" is the 19th song of Act Two of the musical Hamilton, as well as the 42nd song of both acts.
It is 1800, and the election for the new president of the United States has been narrowed down to two delegates: Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. Unsure of whom to cast their vote to, the public calls upon Hamilton, seeking his vote as to better judge whom to place theirs.
In the wake of his son's death, he stayed out of the public eye for a while. However, when the votes end up as a tie, it’s up to Hamilton to break it up. He has a brief meeting with Burr before making his decision; his vote goes to Jefferson. Hamilton explains that while he never agreed with Jefferson in the past, he has disagreeable principles, rather than Burr, who has no principles at all. This bold yet brief last political act on Hamilton's part shocks both Jefferson and James Madison, who eventually tells Jefferson he won and is elected president. Burr, knowing what would happen to him next, tells Jefferson he looks forward to working with him as vice-president. But, Jefferson; knowing how much power he has now, decides to not accept it, making Madison vice instead. This officially makes Burr want to destroy Hamilton for all he’s done to him, leading into the next song; "Your Obedient Servant".
Lyrics[]
[ENSEMBLE]
The Election of 1800
[JEFFERSON]
Can we get back to politics?
[MADISON]
Please?!
[JEFFERSON]
Yo. Every action has an equal, opposite reaction
John Adams shat the bed. I love the guy, but he's in traction
Poor Alexander Hamilton? He is missing in action
So now I’m facing—
[JEFFERSON & MADISON]
Aaron Burr
[JEFFERSON]
With his own faction
[MADISON]
He's very attractive in the North. New Yorkers like his chances
[JEFFERSON]
He's not very forthcoming on any particular stances
[MADISON]
Ask him a question, it glances off, he obfuscates, he dances
[JEFFERSON]
And they say I’m a Francophile? At least they know I know where France is!
[MADISON]
Thomas, that's the problem. See, they see Burr as a less extreme you
[JEFFERSON]
Ha?
[MADISON]
You need to change course, a key endorsement might redeem you
[JEFFERSON]
Who did you have in mind?
[MADISON]
Don't laugh
[JEFFERSON]
Who is it?
[MADISON]
You used to work on the same staff
[JEFFERSON]
Whaaaaaaaat?!
[MADISON]
It might be nice, it might be nice
To get Hamilton on your side
[JEFFERSON & MADISON]
It might be nice, it might be nice
To get Hamilton on your side
[BURR] | [ENSEMBLE] |
[MALE VOTER]
I don't like Adams
[FEMALE VOTER]
Well, he's gonna lose! That's just defeatist
[ANOTHER MALE VOTER]
And Jefferson—
[TWO MEN]
In love with France!
[ANOTHER FEMALE VOTER]
Yeah, he's so elitist!
[TWO WOMEN]
I like that Aaron Burr!
[A WOMAN]
I can't believe we're here with him!
[A MAN]
He seems approachable?
[ANOTHER MALE VOTER]
Like you could grab a beer with him!
[ENSEMBLE]
Dear Mr. Hamilton: your fellow Federalists would like to know how you'll be voting
[HAMILTON]
It's quiet uptown
[ENSEMBLE]
Dear Mr. Hamilton: John Adams doesn’t stand a chance, so who are you promoting?
[HAMILTON]
It's quiet uptown
[MEN] | [WOMEN] |
[HAMILTON]
Well, if it isn’t Aaron Burr. Sir!
[BURR]
Alexander!
[HAMILTON]
You’ve created quite a stir, sir!
[BURR]
I’m going door to door!
[HAMILTON]
You're openly campaigning?
[BURR]
Sure!
[HAMILTON]
That's new!
[BURR]
Honestly, it's kinda draining
[HAMILTON]
Burr—
[BURR]
Sir!
[HAMILTON]
Is there anything you wouldn't do?
[BURR]
No. I'm chasing what I want
And you know what?
[HAMILTON]
What?
[BURR]
I learned that from you
[ENSEMBLE]
If you had to choose
If you had to choose
[MADISON]
It's a tie!
[ENSEMBLE]
If you had to choose
If you had to choose
[JEFFERSON]
It's up to the delegates!
[ENSEMBLE]
If you had to choose
If you had to choose
[JEFFERSON & MADISON]
It's up to Hamilton!
[VOTERS]
If you had to choose
[VOTERS] | [ENSEMBLE] |
[ENSEMBLE]
Jefferson or Burr?
Choose
Choose
Choose!
[HAMILTON]
Yo
[ENSEMBLE]
Oh!
[HAMILTON]
The people are asking to hear my voice
[ENSEMBLE]
Oh!
[HAMILTON]
For the country is facing a difficult choice
[ENSEMBLE]
Oh!
[HAMILTON]
And if you were to ask me who I'd promote—
[ENSEMBLE]
Oh!
[HAMILTON]
—Jefferson has my vote!
[JEFFERSON/MADISON/ENSEMBLE]
Oh!
[HAMILTON]
I have never agreed with Jefferson once
[JEFFERSON/MADISON/ENSEMBLE]
Oh!
[HAMILTON]
We have fought on like seventy-five different fronts
[JEFFERSON/MADISON/ENSEMBLE]
Oh!
[HAMILTON]
But when all is said and all is done
Jefferson has beliefs; Burr has none
[ENSEMBLE]
Ooooooh
[MADISON & JEFFERSON]
Well, I'll be damned
Well, I'll be damned
[MADISON]
Hamilton's on your side
[ENSEMBLE]
Well, I'll be damned
Well, I'll be damned
[JEFFERSON]
And?
[MADISON]
You won in a landslide
[BURR]
Congrats on a race well-run
I did give you a fight
[JEFFERSON]
Uh-huh
[BURR]
I look forward to our partnership
[JEFFERSON]
Our partnership?
[BURR]
As your Vice President
[JEFFERSON]
Ha. Yeah, right
You hear this guy? Man openly campaigns against me, talkin' bout, 'I look forward to our partnership"
[MADISON]
It’s crazy that the guy who comes in second gets to be Vice President
[JEFFERSON]
Ooh! Ya know what? We can change that! Ya know why?
[MADISON]
Why?
[JEFFERSON]
'Cuz I'm the President
Hey, Burr, when you see Hamilton, thank him for the endorsement