| ←1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 → Presidential election year | |
| Incumbent president | George Washington (Independent) |
|---|---|
| Next Congress | 5th |
| Presidential election | |
| Partisan control | Federalist gain |
| Electoral vote | |
| John Adams (F) | 71 |
| Thomas Jefferson (DR) | 68 |
 | |
| 1796 presidential election results.Green denotes states won by Jefferson,burnt orange denotes states won by Adams. Numbers indicate the number of electoral votes allotted to each state. | |
| Senate elections | |
| Overall control | Federalist hold |
| Seats contested | 11 of 32 seats[1] |
| Net seat change | Federalist +1[2] |
| House elections | |
| Overall control | Federalist gain |
| Seats contested | All 106 voting members |
| Net seat change | Federalist +10[2] |
Elections were held for the5th United States Congress, in 1796 and 1797. The election took place during the beginning stages of theFirst Party System, as theFederalist Party and theDemocratic-Republican Party clashed over thestates' rights, the financial policies of Treasury SecretaryAlexander Hamilton, and the recently ratifiedJay Treaty. The Federalists maintained control of the Senate, and won control of the House and the presidency.
In the first contested presidential election and the first presidential election in which parties played a major role,Federalist Vice PresidentJohn Adams narrowly defeated Democratic-Republican former Secretary of StateThomas Jefferson.[3] Adams wonNew England while Jefferson won theSouth, leaving themid-Atlantic states to decide the election. As the election took place prior to the ratification of theTwelfth Amendment, Jefferson, who finished with the second most electoral votes, succeeded Adams as vice president. Federalist former GovernorThomas Pinckney of South Carolina finished with the third most electoral votes, while Democratic-Republican SenatorAaron Burr of New York finished in fourth place. This election marked the only time in American history that members of two different political parties were elected as president and vice president. Adams's election made him the first member of apolitical party to be elected president, asGeorge Washington had remained unaffiliated with any political faction or party throughout his presidency.[4]
In theHouse, Federalists won moderate gains, taking majority control of the chamber.[5]
In theSenate, Federalists picked up one seat, maintaining a commanding majority in the chamber.[6]
  | ThisAmerican elections-related article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |