Adams vs. Jefferson: Round One
The election of 1796 was the first contested election for President of the United States. In 1788 and 1792, George Washington had been elected without opposition, but Washington kept his promise to sit only for two terms and the office of President was up for grabs in 1796.
The notion of slates or running mates had not yet come about. The candidates for the office were incumbent Vice President John Adams of Massachusetts for the Federalist Party, former Governor Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina also a Federalist, former Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson of Virginia as a Democratic-Republican and Senator Aaron Burr of New York also running as a Democratic-Republican ticket.
Democratic-Republicans campaigned heavily for Jefferson, and Federalists campaigned heavily for Adams. The debate was an acrimonious one, with Federalists tying the Democratic-Republicans to the violence of the French Revolution and the Democratic-Republicans accusing the Federalists of favoring monarchism and aristocracy. In foreign policy, the Democratic-Republicans denounced the Federalists over Jay's Treaty (a treaty signed in 1749 with Great Britain, intending to avert another war) The treatw was perceived as too favorable to Britain. The French ambassador embarrassed the Democratic-Republicans by publicly backing them and attacking the Federalists right before the election.
Under the system then in place, electors had two votes, but both were for President. The runner-up in the presidential race was elected Vice President. The idea was for the elector to cast the two votes for different candidates from the same party. But in this election the result was that too many Adams electors failed to cast their second vote for Pinckney, and so Adams was elected President while his opponent, Jefferson, was elected Vice President. This was the only time in United States history that the President and Vice President were elected from different parties. Only 9 states used some form of popular voting, but in those states Adams captured 53.4% of the popular vote. He received 71 electoral votes to 68 for Jefferson.
Adams was inaugurated as President on March 4, 1797, 214 years ago today. Jefferson used his position as Vice President to attack Adams' policies, setting the stage for the rematch between the two men in the election of 1800.
The notion of slates or running mates had not yet come about. The candidates for the office were incumbent Vice President John Adams of Massachusetts for the Federalist Party, former Governor Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina also a Federalist, former Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson of Virginia as a Democratic-Republican and Senator Aaron Burr of New York also running as a Democratic-Republican ticket.
Democratic-Republicans campaigned heavily for Jefferson, and Federalists campaigned heavily for Adams. The debate was an acrimonious one, with Federalists tying the Democratic-Republicans to the violence of the French Revolution and the Democratic-Republicans accusing the Federalists of favoring monarchism and aristocracy. In foreign policy, the Democratic-Republicans denounced the Federalists over Jay's Treaty (a treaty signed in 1749 with Great Britain, intending to avert another war) The treatw was perceived as too favorable to Britain. The French ambassador embarrassed the Democratic-Republicans by publicly backing them and attacking the Federalists right before the election.
Under the system then in place, electors had two votes, but both were for President. The runner-up in the presidential race was elected Vice President. The idea was for the elector to cast the two votes for different candidates from the same party. But in this election the result was that too many Adams electors failed to cast their second vote for Pinckney, and so Adams was elected President while his opponent, Jefferson, was elected Vice President. This was the only time in United States history that the President and Vice President were elected from different parties. Only 9 states used some form of popular voting, but in those states Adams captured 53.4% of the popular vote. He received 71 electoral votes to 68 for Jefferson.
Adams was inaugurated as President on March 4, 1797, 214 years ago today. Jefferson used his position as Vice President to attack Adams' policies, setting the stage for the rematch between the two men in the election of 1800.