Instructions: Identify the Following

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The Answer is The election of 1796 was the third presidential election in the United States and the first one in which political parties played a dominant role. It was also the first contested American presidential election, as the previous two elections had seen George Washington win unanimously without serious opposition.

In the 1796 election, the two main candidates were John Adams, representing the Federalist Party, and Thomas Jefferson, representing the Democratic-Republican Party. John Adams was a prominent statesman from Massachusetts who had played a key role in the American Revolution and had served as the first Vice President of the United States under George Washington. Thomas Jefferson, from Virginia, was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and had served as the first Secretary of State.

The Federalist Party, which supported Adams, favored a strong central government, close ties with Great Britain, and policies that supported the interests of the northern business and merchant classes. The Democratic-Republican Party, which backed Jefferson, advocated for states' rights, an agrarian focus, and closer relations with France, especially in the wake of the French Revolution.

The election was conducted under the original Electoral College system, where each elector cast two votes for President, with the candidate receiving the majority of votes becoming President and the runner-up becoming Vice President. This system did not account for political parties or a separate vote for Vice President.

John Adams won the election with 71 electoral votes, while Thomas Jefferson came in second with 68 electoral votes, making Adams the President and Jefferson the Vice President. This outcome was significant because it resulted in a President and Vice President from opposing political parties, which led to considerable political tension and conflict during Adams' presidency.

The election of 1796 set the stage for the bitter and highly partisan election of 1800. It also highlighted the flaws in the original Electoral College system, which were later addressed with the 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1804. This amendment ensured that electors would cast separate votes for President and Vice President, reducing the likelihood of a President and Vice President from opposing parties.

The election of 1796 is significant in American history as it marked the beginning of the country's first party system and demonstrated the challenges of transitioning from the nonpartisan era of George Washington to the increasingly partisan politics that would dominate the early republic.

Instructions: Identify the Following

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