Adams returned home after the adoption of [[the Constitution]]. He served as the first [[vice president]] in the U.S. history from 1789 to 1797. George Washington's decision to retire from public life set the stage for the first truly partisan presidential election. Alexander Hamilton was the true leader of the Federalists. However he made many political enemies during his tenure as Secretary of the Treasury. The Federalists decided to run Adams as their presidential candidate and Thomas Pinckney for the office of vice-president. The Republicans selected their leader, Thomas Jefferson for president and Aaron Burr as vice-President. Adams won the bitterly contested[[United States presidential election, 1796|Presidential Election of 1796]], garnering 71 electoral votes to Jefferson's 68, and became president in his own right. | Adams returned home after the adoption of [[the Constitution]]. He served as the first [[vice president]] in the U.S. history from 1789 to 1797. George Washington's decision to retire from public life set the stage for the first truly partisan presidential election. Alexander Hamilton was the true leader of the Federalists. However he made many political enemies during his tenure as Secretary of the Treasury. The Federalists decided to run Adams as their presidential candidate and Thomas Pinckney for the office of vice-president. The Republicans selected their leader, Thomas Jefferson for president and Aaron Burr as vice-President. Adams won the bitterly contested[[United States presidential election, 1796|Presidential Election of 1796]], garnering 71 electoral votes to Jefferson's 68, and became president in his own right. |