The Federalists could not dispute these facts. They expected that Jefferson would be re-elected. But they were sure their candidate would get as many as 40 electoral votes. The results shocked the Federalists. Jefferson received 162 electoral votes. Pinckney received just 14.

One man tried to explain the meaning of Jefferson's great victory. He was John Quincy Adams, son of former president John Adams. President Adams had been a firm Federalist. This is what his son said:

The power of Jefferson's administration rests on a strong majority of the American people. The president has great popular support. His re-election shows that the experiment of the Federalists has failed. It never can and never will be brought to life again. To try to bring it back would be foolish. It would be like trying to put life into a body that has been buried for years.

After the election of 1804, only seven Federalists remained in the United States Senate. Only 25 remained in the House of Representatives.

Thomas Jefferson would be president for another four years.

Jefferson’s second term will be our story next week.

I’m Steve Ember, inviting you to join us each week for THE MAKING OF A NATION – our program of American history from VOA Learning English.