The election of 1796 Adams vs. Jefferson was a key political crisis during the late 1790’s. Although they both worked at each other’s side on many occasions. Having both played key roles in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. They had different views in direction of for the nation’s future. “While fearing Hamilton’s ambition and distrusting his infatuation with England, Vice President Adams was a committed federalist.” (Nash, 2007) In spite of Adams only winning the election of 1796 by a total of three electoral votes. He was soon confronted with his first major dispute as president with the war crisis with France. Causing the first conflict for him over foreign policy “French naval vessels interfering with American merchant ships
