Historical Research Library Discover the people, events, and key documents that shaped the Founding Era.
An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery, New York State, 1799 A law for manumission of enslaved people at twenty-five (women) and twenty-eight (men) that passed the New York legislature Supporting Document
Rules for Philip Hamilton, 1800 A study schedule that Alexander Hamilton wrote for his oldest son, who was training to be a lawyer Supporting Document
“A Poem on the Death of General Washington,” 1800 A verse from a poem praising Washington's decision to free people he had enslaved Supporting Document
Presidential Election of 1800 A fierce contest between John Adams, Charles Pinckney, Thomas Jefferson, and Aaron Burr that was marked by party polarization and scandal—testing the peaceful transfer of power Event
A Democratic-Republican on the Election of 1800 A letter discussing the historic presidential election of 1800, party shifts, and Adams’s presidency Supporting Document
“Jefferson is in every view less dangerous than Burr,” 1800 Hamilton’s support of Jefferson over Burr in the contested election of 1800—one factor in Burr’s 1804 challenge Supporting Document
“The Nature and Importance of True Republicanism,” 1801 A treatise by Haynes that expresses his only public statement during his lifetime on race or slavery Supporting Document
Alexander Hamilton on Peggy’s Death, 1801 A letter carrying news of Peggy’s death to Eliza and offering his warm condolences Supporting Document
Burr Writes to Jefferson about Hamilton, 1801 A letter on political matters and Hamilton's reaction to Democratic-Republican success in New York races Supporting Document
John Adams on the Abolition of Slavery, 1801 A letter discussing the growth of slavery and advising caution about radical abolitionism Supporting Document
John Quincy Adams’s Poetic Message to Thomas Jefferson, 1802 A poem mocking Thomas Jefferson for his affair with Sally Hemings Supporting Document
“A Valedictory Discourse,” 1804 An anti-slavery poem delivered in speech to Revolutionary War veterans Supporting Document