Figure 1.--k

President Washington had been unanimously elected in 1789 and 1792. He made the important decision in 1796 not to seek a third term not broken until Presidnt Franklin Roosevelt decided to run for a third term in 1940 duing the World War II crisis. Washington's decision mean that the 1796 election was the first contested campaign for preident. establishing the partisan pattern for future prsidential elections. The two most important candidates were Jefferson and Adams. The party picture was more complicated. Federalist leader Hamilton did not support his party's strongest candidate--Adams. Hamilton supported Thomas Pinckney, a diplomat. The Republicans were also split. Aaron Burr, a leader of the New York Tammany Society, contested Jeffereson's leadership. Most of New England strongly supported Adams, but were willing to follow Hamilton and support Pinckney for vice president. Some New Englanders decided to vote for Adams but not for Pinckney to make sure Adams would defeat him. Hamilton warned that this might result in Jefferson becoming vice president. New England strongly supported Adams and many refused to support Pinckney. The final vote was very close: Adams, 71; Jefferson, 68; Pinckney, 59; and Burr, 30. The result was notable that a president and vice president from different political parties was elected.

Two-Term Tradition

President Washington had been unanimously elected in 1789 and 1792. He made the important decision in 1796 not to seek a third term not broken until Presidnt Franklin Roosevelt decided to run for a third term in 1940 duing the World War II crisis. The horrified Republicans insisted on a Contitutional amendment after the War making sure that would never occur again.

Contested Election

Washington's decision not to run again mean that the 1796 election was the first contested campaign for preident. establishing the partisan pattern for future prsidential elections. And the two political parties had coalesed by 1796 to contest the election.

Candidates

The two most important candidates were Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, both luminaries of the Revolution. The candidates were chosen by the Congressional delergations of the two parties. The Federalists endorsed Vice-President John Adams. Govenor Clinton of New York had lost his influence in the Republican Party. The Republicans instead endorsed former Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. The party picture was, however, more complicated. Federalist leader Hamilton did not support his party's strongest candidate--Adams. Hamilton instead supported Thomas Pinckney, a diplomat. The Republicans were also split. Aaron Burr, a leader of the New York Tammany Society, contested Jeffereson's leadership of the Party.

Campaign

There was no actual campaigning by the candidates, alothough with the departure of President Washington, the Republican and Federalists press went at the opposition candidates vigorously. The debate over the Jay Treaty during 1794-95 had played a major role in the rise of the Democratic Republicans. While the Democratic Republicans had limited their criticism of President Washington, the same was not true of Vice President Adams. The Republicans accused Vice-president Adams of wanting to reimpose the monarchy. Adams countered that the Republicans were trying to stir up the passions of the mob to seize control of the Government. The press at the time makes modern newspapers look tame and it would only get worse in 1800. Federalists newspapers tended to refere to the Republicns as "democrats" or even more commonly Jacobins--trying to pin the excesses of the French Revolution on them. The Federalists made a major issue out of religion and questioned Jefferson's religion. Jeferson of course had played a major role in distablishing the Anglican church in Virginia and was a fervent believer in the separation of church and state. Jefferson did not answer the charges and after the election he and other Republicans came to the conclusion that the religion issue had helped carry the election for Adams. [Larson] The persuit of the presidency gradually turned Adams and Jefferson two old friends from the Revolutionary period, into bitter enemies. Most of New England strongly supported Adams, but were willing to follow Hamilton and support Pinckney for vice president. Some New Englanders decided to vote for Adams but not for Pinckney to make sure Adams would defeat him. Hamilton warned that this might result in Jefferson becoming vice president.

Election

The election of 1796 was one of the most unusual in American history. New England strongly supported Adams, but and many refused to support Pinckney. The final vote was very close: Adams, 71; Jefferson, 68; Pinckney, 59; and Burr, 30. Adams narrow vicgtory was probably the rsult of President Washington's endorsement. The result was notable that a president and vice president from different political parties was elected. This occurred because the Constitutin was written without any provision for political parties. The voting system for president and vice president thus quickly broke down. The system in 1800 was to prive even more defective and was changed by the 12th Amendment (1804).

Sources

Larson, Edward. A Magnificent Catastrophe.

Created: 3:27 AM 2/16/2007
Last updated: 3:42 PM 11/3/2007