Why did political tensions increase after the election of 1796?

Jefferson lost support from farmers and abandoned his ideals.
Jefferson lost support from farmers and abandoned his ideals.

The elected president and vice president were from opposing parties.
The elected president and vice president were from opposing parties.

Adams was outraged that he did not get to choose his vice president.
Adams was outraged that he did not get to choose his vice president.

Hamilton sided with Jefferson over foreign policy issues.

The correct option is:

Hamilton sided with Jefferson over foreign policy issues.

Political tensions increased after the election of 1796 for several reasons. One of the reasons was that Jefferson lost support from farmers and abandoned his ideals. Additionally, the elected president, John Adams, and the vice president, Thomas Jefferson, were from opposing parties, which created further divisions. Adams was also outraged that he did not get to choose his vice president. Moreover, another factor that contributed to the increase in tensions was that Hamilton sided with Jefferson over foreign policy issues.

What the answer

The correct answer is: Hamilton sided with Jefferson over foreign policy issues.

Political tensions increased after the election of 1796 for several reasons, including:

1. Jefferson lost support from farmers and abandoned his ideals: After the election, Jefferson, who represented the Democratic-Republicans, faced a decline in support from farmers primarily due to economic policies that negatively impacted agrarian interests. This loss of support and a perceived abandonment of his original principles led to increased tension between different factions within the country.

2. The elected president and vice president were from opposing parties: The election of 1796 resulted in John Adams, a Federalist, becoming the president, while Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, became the vice president. This marked the first time in U.S. history that the president and vice president were from different political parties. The stark political differences between the two parties further fueled tensions among their supporters.

3. Adams was outraged that he did not get to choose his vice president: Adams, as the president-elect, was disheartened and angered that he did not have the power to select his own vice president. This strained the relationship between Adams and Jefferson and worsened the political divide between the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans.

4. Hamilton sided with Jefferson over foreign policy issues: Alexander Hamilton, a prominent Federalist, disagreed with Adams on key foreign policy matters, particularly regarding relations with Britain. Instead, Hamilton aligned himself with Jefferson's stance, further contributing to the divisions within the Federalist party and intensifying political tensions.

In summary, the political tensions after the election of 1796 were a result of Jefferson losing support from farmers, the president and vice president being from opposing parties, Adams' dissatisfaction with his vice president, and Hamilton's alignment with Jefferson on foreign policy matters. These factors contributed to an increasingly divided political landscape in the United States at that time.