The American Revolution of 1800

On the fortieth anniversary of its groundbreaking publication, this new edition of Dan Sisson's historical masterpiece shows that misunderstandings about the nature of revolution, political parties, and electoral history have created the wrong popular narrative about Thomas Jefferson's election in 1800-misunderstandings that have ramifications for our democracy today.

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 The Idea of a Non-party State
• Chapter 2 The Idea of Revolution
• Chapter 3 The Idea of Revolution: Conspiracy and Counterrevolution
• Chapter 4 The Principles of the American and French Revolutions
• Chapter 5 The Politics of Faction
• Chapter 6 The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions and Threats to the First Amendment
• Chapter 7 The Politics of the Revolution of 1800: Prelude
• Chapter 8 The Politics of the Revolution of 1800: Revolution
• Afterword
• Notes
• Acknowledgments
• Index
• About the Authors

“Practical Thomas Jefferson thought big thoughts about periodic revolutions against tyranny and concentrated power to abuse the people. His relevance now, as Dan Sisson's book and Thom Hartmann's commentary inspire, connects with the entrenching deteriorations and deprivations of today's America. To heed Jefferson's wisdom is to call for another mindful revolution at the ballot box and in the civil arena, which can come from the determined hands of we the people.”
-Ralph Nader

“Since I grew up in Lexington, the birthplace of the Revolution, it's always a thrill to hear retold the story of the ideas that animated our forebears. They are ideas that-in the time of the Koch brothers-we need held up for all to see.”
-Bill McKibben, President, 350.org, and author of The End of Nature

“Deepening inequalities-economic, political, and cultural-drive growing appetites for systemic change. Thinking turns again toward revolution when piecemeal reforms prove too difficult and rare and when those we do achieve prove vulnerable and temporary. Our rethinking of revolution can learn valuable lessons from Dan Sisson's classic about the last time revolution was on America's agenda.”
-Richard D. Wolff, Professor of Economics Emeritus, University of Massachusetts Amherst

“Through this deep dive into early US history, Hartmann and Sisson draw our attention to a crucial distinction between a politics of ideas in search of liberty and prosperity for all and one centered on a factional competition for power.”
-David Korten, Board Chair, YES! Magazine, and author of When Corporations Rule the World

“This is a fascinating account of our country's early history that has clear relevance to the politics of today.”
-Dean Baker, Codirector, Center for Economic and Policy Research, and coauthor of Getting Back to Full Employment