The 1796 United States presidential election was the third election of its kind, held from Friday, Nov. 4, to Wednesday, Dec. 7, 1796. This was the first time political parties played a dominant role in the American presidential election. The election was also unique because it was contested and the only one that saw a president and vice president elected from opposing tickets. John Adams of the Federalist Party, the incumbent vice president, defeated Thomas Jefferson of the Democratic-Republican Party, a former secretary of state.
