Presidential Election of 1796

IN 1796, THE United States would conduct, for the first time in its brief history, a contested presidential election involving candidates from two political parties. George Washington, elected without opposition in 1788 and 1792, announced his retirement on September 17, 1796, beginning what both John and Abigail Adams knew would be a bitter and contentious campaign and election. Unlike modern campaigns, both candidates remained on the sidelines and at their private residences, John Adams at Peacefield and Thomas Jefferson at Monticello. Unlike modern presidential campaigns, proxies conducted 18th and 19th century presidential campaigns while the presidential candidates remained on the sidelines throughout the campaign.

Adams, like Washington, viewed political parties with suspicion and thought their rise was a detriment to the political system of the United States. Adams reluctantly associated with the Federalist Party; the party that most approximated his own political views, after the existence of political parties became a foregone conclusion. Early in 1796, his letters home indicate indecisiveness on running for president; and whether he should seek one or two terms in office. Thomas Jefferson, upon retiring from the Washington cabinet, had stated that his public life was over; he did not wish to seek elective office. However, early in 1796, Jefferson indicated to his political ally, James Madison, that he might consider seeking the presidency.

The Federalist ticket was comprised of Adams from Massachusetts for president and Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina as the vice president; while the Democratic-Republican ticket was Jefferson of Virginia for president and Aaron Burr of New York for vice president. However, a victory by the presidential nominee did not assure victory by the vice presidential nominee of the same party. The vice president would be the candidate, whether the presidential or vice presidential nominee from either party, who came in second place in the number of Electoral College votes.

It was assumed by the fall of 1796 that Adams had 49 of the 70 needed electoral votes safely in his pocket, while Jefferson was credited with 42 electoral votes. The tickets for both parties achieved a regional balance. This balance was considered a necessity as it was assumed that the New England states would support Adams and the south would support Jefferson, making the votes of the middle states the decisive factor in determining the winner of the election.

The Electoral College consisted of 136 electors in 16 states; in nine of the 16 states the electors were chosen by the state legislatures. Adams and Jefferson were both active in the Revolutionary Era serving in the Continental Congress, on the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence, and representing the United States during the Revolutionary War in France. Later, they both served in the cabinet of George Washington: Adams as the nation's first vice president, and Jefferson as the first secretary of state. While holding different political views, they considered each other friends. The rise of political parties and the vicious-ness of the elections in 1796 and 1800 would bring an end to their friendship, until it was resurrected years later in retirement at the urging of their mutual friend Benjamin Rusk.

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