<P> The United States presidential election of 1796 was the third quadrennial presidential election . It was held from Friday , November 4 to Wednesday , December 7 , 1796 . It was the first contested American presidential election , the first presidential election in which political parties played a dominant role , and the only presidential election in which a president and vice president were elected from opposing tickets . Incumbent Vice President John Adams of the Federalist Party defeated former Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson of the Democratic - Republican Party . </P>
<P> The United States presidential election of 1796 was the third quadrennial presidential election . It was held from Friday , November 4 to Wednesday , December 7 , 1796 . It was the first contested American presidential election , the first presidential election in which political parties played a dominant role , and the only presidential election in which a president and vice president were elected from opposing tickets . Incumbent Vice President John Adams of the Federalist Party defeated former Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson of the Democratic - Republican Party . </P>
who won the election of 1796 and what political party was he in
who won the election of 1796 and what political party was he in
Incumbent Vice President John Adams of the Federalist Party
Incumbent Vice President John Adams of the Federalist Party