Causes Of The Election Of 1796

The US presidential election of 1796 was the first contested American election and the only one to elect a President and Vice President from opposing tickets. After two terms as president, George Washington had had enough, and it was time for another president. John Adams received the most votes, and Thomas Jefferson became second-in-command. During and after the election process, problems arose not only between parties, but also within them.

The federalists Party believed in a strong central government. They nominated John Adams of Massachusetts and Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina. A man named Alexander Hamilton worked undercover to get Pinckney elected, believing he could be controlled. Adams had help and support in the North, so Hamilton’s plans fell short. Mostly farmers and laborers, German, Scottish and Irish descendants, and wealthy plantation owners favored the Republicans. This party chose Thomas Jefferson of Virginia and Aaron Burr of New York as candidates.

Republicans believed that the Federalists Party liked monarchy and aristocracy, so the party of the working class repeatedly criticized Adams for not supporting the
Adams was the president to live in what would later be called the White House. During Adams’ presidency, the United States faced its most serious international crisis yet: an undeclared war with France. France fought back by capturing hundreds of vessels flying the United States flag. Adams sent a negotiating team to France to settle the dispute. Three France emissaries demanded that the Americans pay a bribe of $250,000 and provide a $10 million-dollar loan. The Americans refused to pay anything. The congress prepared for war by authorizing a 20,000-man army and calling George Washington out of retirement as commander in chief. In the winter of 1798, an undeclared war took place between France and the United