John Adams and the Presidential Election of 1796

The New Nation
Written By Tom Hand

The election of 1796 was America’s first contested presidential election. With George Washington’s retirement, the electorate split into two camps. Under the original rules of the Constitution, the top vote getter, John Adams, a Federalist, was declared President and the second highest, Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, was named Vice President.

Tom Hand, creator and publisher of Americana Corner, explores how John Adams was able to govern while his Vice President sought to undermine his administration, and why it still matters today.

Images courtesy of Library of Congress, Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Park Service, Wikipedia.

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Tom Hand
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John Adams, Our First Vice President