Why was Jefferson not named President after he won the popular vote in 1800?

Answer 1

In 1800 Thomas Jefferson defeated John Adams, winning the presidency in the most important and complex election between the adoption of the Constitution in 1787 and the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Jefferson's inauguration on 4 March 1801 signaled a new era in democratic self-government in the new nation, as the candidate of an opposition party peacefully took office while his defeated rival-the incumbent president-quietly left office. Never, perhaps, in the history of the world had regime change been accomplished so peacefully and smoothly. The campaign, however, was hardly harmonious and the route from the election to the inauguration of Jefferson was anything but smooth. In the aftermath of the election Congress wrote and sent on to the states what became the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution to create a new method of electing the president. I'm in homeschooling too. I have this same question on one of my tests. I guess the answer would be... Jefferson did win the election. Jefferson won the popular vote and tied with Aaron Burr for Electoral College votes. The House of Representatives decided the election. Anyways, that's what I'm putting.

Answer 2

Jefferson, although winning the popular vote against Aaron Burr, tied him in Electoral College votes. It was up to the House of Representatives to decide the election.