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Election of 1796 |
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Start Your Visit With ...Historical TimelinesChronological Eras Information Tables General Interest Maps Glossary History Quizzes |
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George Washington, worn-out, stung by criticism and yearning for the pleasures of Mount Vernon, refused to consider a third term. He supported his vice president, John Adams, but thought it unseemly to campaign on behalf of any candidate.
The Constitution in 1796 required presidential electors to place the names of two individuals on their ballots; the candidate with the highest vote count, if a majority, became the president and the runner up the vice president.
It was generally agreed among the leading Federalists that John Adams of Massachusetts should follow the Southerner George Washington. Alexander Hamilton, however, had quarreled with Adams and sought to influence the results. Hamilton much preferred Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina, the presumed vice presidential candidate, and persuaded a number of Southern electors to vote for Pinckney and a lesser candidate, i.e. ignoring Adams. Word leaked out, however, and Adams supporters in New England influenced electors to drop Pinckney's name from their ballots.
The results were not anticipated by anyone. Adams won with 71 electoral votes, but was followed by Thomas Jefferson with 68 votes; Thomas Pinckney trailed the leaders with 59. The president was a Federalist, but the vice president was the leader of the Republican opposition – an untidy situation.
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The Election of 1796 |
Party |
Electoral |
Popular |
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John Adams (MA) |
Federalist |
71 |
* |
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Thomas Jefferson (VA) |
Democratic-Republican |
68 |
|
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Thomas Pinckney (SC) |
Federalist |
59 |
|
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Aaron Burr (NY) |
Democratic-Republican |
30 |
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Samuel Adams (MA) |
Federalist |
15 |
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Oliver Ellsworth (CT) |
Federalist |
11 |
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George Clinton (NY) |
Democratic-Republican |
7 |
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John Jay (NY) |
Federalist |
5 |
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Others |
10 |
SparkNotes: The First Years of the Union (1797-1809): The Election of 1796 and the Quasi-War
... Years of the Union (1797-1809) : The Election of 1796 and the Quasi-War The Election of 1796 and the Quasi-War Summary The first major political contest between the increasingly divided Republicans and Federalists, the electionElection of 1796 and the Quasi-War The Election of 1796 and the Quasi-War Summary The first major political contest between the increasingly divided Republicans and Federalists, the electionElection of 1796 and the Quasi-War Summary The first major political contest between the increasingly divided Republicans and Federalists, the election of 1796election of 1796 saw ...
http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/firstyears/section1.html
Presidential Election of 1796
... Historycentral Advertise Contact US Presidential Election 1796 The presidential election of 1796 was the first disputed election. The two contenders were Vice President Adams and Secretary of State Jefferson. Neither took directelection of 1796 was the first disputed election. The two contenders were Vice President Adams and Secretary of State Jefferson. Neither took direct part in the ...
http://www.historycentral.com/elections/1796.html
The Political Graveyard: Election of 1796
Questions? Return to The Political Graveyard main page. Election of 1796 Electoral College Details President and Vice President JOHN ADAMS: 71 electoral votes Connecticut (9), Delaware (3), Maryland (7), Massachusetts (16), New Election of 1796 Electoral College Details President and Vice President JOHN ADAMS: 71 electoral votes Connecticut (9), Delaware (3), Maryland (7), Massachusetts (16), New Hampshire (6 ...
http://politicalgraveyard.com/offices/pres-vp-1796.html
