Thomas Jefferson won the dirty election of 1800, beating his Federalist enemy in a war of personal attacks and insults (he referred to this victory as the Revolution of 1800). However, the win was not easy, and as a result of a new rule, no one came out with a majority. As a result, the decision was sent to the House, which was a Republican majority, causing Jefferson to win the election in this manner. Jefferson's eight years in office was known as the Jeffersonian Era, which saw a rise of cultural nationalism, and small but relevant advances in medicine and science. The new nation saw the rise of a new, distinct language and writing style, in addition to new religious skepticism. The Second Great Awakening
ccurred during this time period, and although Jefferson had pictured a nation of small, agrarian farmers, industrialism was beginning in America, starting with new technology, especially in New England. Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin was a huge development, and helped aid the cotton economy, adding on to the rising mercantilism of the North, with mill designs taken form Europe, and the power of the steam engine was emerging. Transportation also boomed, and cities began to rise. All this came with the new notion of judicial review and the Marbury v. Madison case. Jefferson helped to secure the Louisiana Purchase and sent the Lewis & Clark Expedition, which explored the West of the growing nation. Jefferson attempted to avoid the war with Britian, but his polices later resulted in the War of 1812. As you can see, much happened during the Jeffersonian era (and even more than listed here, visit this link), but Jefferson finally retired after his second term, in 1809, leaving James Madison to be the next president.