Washington chose to do so, igniting protests and riots. He was accused of surrendering American honor to a tyrannical monarchy and of turning his back on the French Republic.[169] John Adams predicted in a letter to Abigail that ratification would deeply divide the nation.[170]

Election of 1796
Main article: 1796 United States presidential election
1796 presidential election results
The election of 1796 was the first contested American presidential election.[171] Twice, George Washington had been elected to office unanimously but, during his presidency, deep philosophical differences between the two leading figures in the administration – Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson – had caused a rift, leading to the founding of the Federalist and Republican parties.[172] When Washington announced that he would not be a candidate for a third term, an intense partisan struggle for control of Congress and the presidency began.[173]
As in the previous two presidential elections, no candidates were put forward for voters to choose between in 1796. The Constitution provided for the selection of electors who would then choose a president.[174] In seven states voters chose the presidential electors. In the remaining nine states, they were chosen by the state's legislature.