United States Senate elections, 1796 and 1797

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United States Senate elections, 1796 and 1797
Flag of the United States (1795-1818).svg
  1794/95 Dates vary by state 1798/99  

11 of the 32 seats in the United States Senate (plus special elections)
17 seats needed for a majority

 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Federalist Democratic-Republican
Seats before1912
Seats after2010
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Decrease2.svg 2
Seats up83
Races won91

Majority party before election

Federalist

Elected Majority party

Federalist

The United States Senate elections of 1796 and 1797 were elections for the United States Senate which, coinciding with John Adams's election as President, had the ruling Federalist Party gain one seat.

United States Senate Upper house of the United States Congress

The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, which along with the United States House of Representatives—the lower chamber—comprises the legislature of the United States. The Senate chamber is located in the north wing of the Capitol, in Washington, D.C.

John Adams 2nd president of the United States

John Adams was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, and Founding Father who served as the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Before his presidency he was a leader of the American Revolution that achieved independence from Great Britain, and also served as the first vice president of the United States. Adams was a dedicated diarist and regularly corresponded with many important figures in early American history including his wife and adviser, Abigail, and his letters and other papers are an important source of historical information about the era.

Contents

As these elections were prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment, Senators were chosen by State legislatures.

Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution Part of the United States Constitution

The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution established the popular election of United States Senators by the people of the states. The amendment supersedes Article I, §3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, under which senators were elected by state legislatures. It also alters the procedure for filling vacancies in the Senate, allowing for state legislatures to permit their governors to make temporary appointments until a special election can be held.

State legislature (United States) legislature of a U.S. state

A state legislature in the United States is the legislative body of any of the 50 U.S. states. The formal name varies from state to state. In 25 states, the legislature is simply called the Legislature, or the State Legislature, while in 19 states, the legislature is called the General Assembly. In Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the legislature is called the General Court, while North Dakota and Oregon designate the legislature the Legislative Assembly.

Results summary

Senate Party Division, 5th Congress (1797–1799)

Change in Senate composition

Before the elections

After the August 2, 1796 admission of Tennessee.

DR6DR5DR4DR3DR2DR1
DR7DR8DR9DR10
Ran
DR11
Ran
DR12
Unknown
V1F19
Resigned
F18
Resigned
F17
Ran
Majority →
F7F8F9F10F11F12
Ran
F13
Ran
F14
Ran
F15
Ran
F16
Ran
F6F5F4F3F2F1

Results of the elections

DR6DR5DR4DR3DR2DR1
DR7DR8DR9DR10
Re-elected
V2
DR Loss
V1F20
Gain
F19
Hold
F18
Hold
F17
Re-elected
Majority →
F7F8F9F10F11F12
Re-elected
F13
Re-elected
F14
Re-elected
F15
Re-elected
F16
Re-elected
F6F5F4F3F2F1

Beginning of the next Congress

DR6DR5DR4DR3DR2DR1
DR7DR8DR9DR10
Hold
V2F21
Gain
F20
Hold
F19
Hold
F18F17
Majority →
F7F8F9F10F11F12F13F14F15F16
F6F5F4F3F2F1
Key:
DR# Democratic–Republican
F# Federalist
V#Vacant

Race summaries

Except if/when noted, the number following candidates is the whole number vote(s), not a percentage.

Special elections during the 4th Congress

In these special elections, the winner was seated before March 4, 1797; ordered by election date.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
Georgia
(Class 3)
George Walton Federalist1795 (Appointed)Appointee retired when successor elected.
New senator elected February 20, 1796.
Democratic-Republican gain.
Josiah Tattnall (Democratic-Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Connecticut
(Class 1)
Oliver Ellsworth Federalist 1788
1791
Incumbent resigned to become Chief Justice of the United States.
New senator elected May 12, 1796.
Federalist hold.
James Hillhouse (Federalist)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Massachusetts
(Class 1)
George Cabot Federalist 1790 Incumbent resigned June 9, 1796.
New senator elected June 11, 1796 on the second ballot.
Federalist hold.
Benjamin Goodhue (Federalist) 75
Edward H. Robbins 65 [1]
Massachusetts
(Class 2)
Caleb Strong Federalist 1789
1793
Incumbent resigned June 1, 1796.
New senator elected June 11, 1796 on the second ballot.
Federalist hold.
Theodore Sedgwick (Federalist) 107
Edward H. Robbins 43
Levi Lincoln 2
Nathaniel Dane (Federalist) 1
Thompson J. Skinner 1 [2]
Connecticut
(Class 3)
Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. Federalist1794 or 1795Incumbent resigned June 10, 1796 to become Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut.
New senator elected October 13, 1796.
Federalist hold.
Uriah Tracy (Federalist)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Vermont
(Class 1)
Moses Robinson Federalist 1791 (New state)Incumbent resigned October 15, 1796.
New senator elected October 18, 1796.
Federalist hold.
Isaac Tichenor (Federalist)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New York
(Class 3)
Rufus King Federalist 1789
1795
Incumbent resigned May 23, 1796 to become U.S. Minister to Great Britain.
New senator elected November 9, 1796.
Federalist hold.
John Laurance (Federalist) 99
Zephaniah Platt 1 [3]
Maryland
(Class 1)
Richard Potts Federalist 1793 (Special) Incumbent resigned October 24, 1796.
New senator elected November 28, 1796.
Federalist hold.
John Eager Howard (Federalist)
W. Spriggs (Federalist) 15 [4]
South Carolina
(Class 2)
Pierce Butler Democratic-Republican 1789
1793
Incumbent resigned October 25, 1796.
New senator elected December 8, 1796.
Democratic-Republican hold.
John Hunter (Democratic-Republican) 72
John Chestnut 66 [5]
New Jersey
(Class 2)
Frederick Frelinghuysen Federalist 1792 or 1793 Incumbent resigned November 12, 1796.
New senator elected November 12, 1796.
Federalist hold.
Richard Stockton (Federalist) Unanimous [6]

Races leading to the 5th Congress

In these general elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1797; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
Connecticut James Hillhouse Federalist 1796 (Special) Incumbent re-elected in 1797.James Hillhouse (Federalist)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Delaware Henry Latimer Federalist 1795 (Special) Incumbent re-elected January 6, 1797.Henry Latimer (Federalist) 16
David Hall (Democratic-Republican) 6 [7]
Maryland John Eager Howard Federalist 1796 (Special) Incumbent re-elected December 9, 1796.John Eager Howard (Federalist)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Massachusetts George Cabot Federalist 1790 Incumbent resigned June 9, 1796.
New senator elected June 11, 1796 on the third ballot.
Federalist hold.
Winner also elected to finish the current term, see above.
Benjamin Goodhue (Federalist) 73
Edward H. Robbins [8]
New Jersey John Rutherfurd Federalist 1790 Incumbent re-elected in 1796.John Rutherfurd (Federalist)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New York Aaron Burr Democratic-Republican 1791 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected January 24, 1797.
Federalist gain.
Philip Schuyler (Federalist) 85
James Kent (Federalist) 1 [9]
Pennsylvania James Ross Federalist 1794 (Special) Incumbent re-elected February 16, 1797.James Ross (Federalist) 56
William Irvine (Democratic-Republican) 38 [10]
Rhode Island Theodore Foster Federalist 1790
1791
Incumbent re-elected in 1797.Theodore Foster (Federalist)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Tennessee William Cocke Democratic-Republican 1796 Legislature failed to elect.
Democratic-Republican loss.
Incumbent later appointed to continue term. [11]
None
Vermont Moses Robinson Federalist 1791 (New state)Incumbent resigned October 15, 1796.
New senator elected October 18, 1796.
Federalist hold.
Winner also elected to finish the current term, see above.
Isaac Tichenor (Federalist)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Virginia Stevens Mason Democratic-Republican 1794 (Special) Incumbent re-elected November 29, 1796.Stevens Mason (Democratic-Republican) 114
James Breckenridge (Federalist) 60 [12]

Special elections during the 5th Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated after March 4, 1797, the beginning of the next Congress.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
Tennessee
(Class 1)
William Cocke Democratic-Republican 1796
1797 (Appointed)
Interim appointee lost re-election.
New senator elected September 26, 1797.
Democratic-Republican hold.
Andrew Jackson (Democratic-Republican) 20
William Cocke (Democratic-Republican) 13 [13]
Tennessee
(Class 2)
William Blount Democratic-Republican 1796 Incumbent expelled July 8, 1797. [14]
New senator elected September 26, 1797.
Democratic-Republican hold.
Joseph Anderson (Democratic-Republican) 33
Unopposed [13]
Vermont
(Class 1)
Isaac Tichenor Federalist 1796 (Special) Incumbent resigned October 17, 1797 to become Governor of Vermont.
New senator elected October 17, 1797.
Federalist hold.
Nathaniel Chipman (Federalist)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Rhode Island
(Class 2)
William Bradford Federalist 1793 Incumbent resigned in October 1797.
New senator elected November 13, 1797.
Federalist hold.
Ray Greene (Federalist)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Maryland
(Class 3)
John Henry Federalist 1788
1795
Incumbent resigned July 10, 1797 to become Governor of Maryland.
New senator elected December 8, 1797.
Federalist hold.
James Lloyd (Federalist) Unopposed [15]

See also

4th United States Congress

The Fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met at Congress Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from March 4, 1795, to March 4, 1797, during the last two years of George Washington's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the First Census of the United States in 1790. The Senate had a Federalist majority, and the House had a Democratic-Republican majority.

5th United States Congress 1797-1799 legislative term

The Fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met at Congress Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from March 4, 1797, to March 4, 1799, during the first two years of John Adams' presidency.

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The United States Senate elections of 1808 and 1809 were elections that had the Federalist Party gain one seat in the United States Senate, and which coincided with the 1808 presidential election. The Federalists had gone into the elections with such a small share of Senate seats that even if they had won every election, they would have still remained a minority caucus.

The United States Senate elections of 1810 and 1811 were elections that had the Democratic-Republican Party maintain their majority the United States Senate. The minority Federalists had gone into the elections with such a small share of Senate seats that they had won all of the elections, they would still not have controlled a majority.

The United States Senate elections of 1812 and 1813 were elections that, coinciding with President James Madison's re-election, had the Democratic-Republican Party lose two seats but still retain an overwhelming majority in the United States Senate. As in recent elections, the minority Federalists had gone into the elections with such a small share of Senate seats that if they had won every one of the elections, they would still not have controlled a majority.

The United States Senate elections of 1814 and 1815 were elections that had the Democratic-Republican Party lose a seat but still retain an overwhelming majority in the United States Senate. Unlike in recent elections, the minority Federalists had gone into the elections with a chance of regaining their long-lost majority had they swept almost all the seats. However, only one seat switched parties. Two seats held by Democratic-Republicans were left unfilled until long after the next Congress began.

The United States Senate elections of 1816 and 1817 were elections for the United States Senate that had the Democratic-Republican Party gain a net of two seats from the admission of a new state, and which coincided with the presidential election.

The United States Senate elections of 1818 and 1819 were elections for the United States Senate that had the Democratic-Republican Party gain two seats. The Federalists had only three seats being contested, of which they lost two and the third was left vacant due to a failure to elect.

The United States Senate elections of 1802 and 1803 were elections for the United States Senate which had the Democratic-Republican Party assume an overwhelming control thereof.

The United States Senate elections of 1800 and 1801 were elections for the United States Senate that, coinciding with their takeover of the White House, led to the Democratic-Republican Party taking control of the United States Senate. Although the Federalists began the next (7th) Congress with a slim majority, they lost their majority shortly thereafter due to mid-year special elections.

The United States Senate elections of 1798 and 1799 were held at the middle of President John Adams's administration and had no net change in political control of the Senate.

The United States Senate elections of 1794 and 1795 were elections that had the formation of organized political parties in the United States, with the Federalist Party emerging from the Pro Administration coalition, and the Democratic-Republican Party emerging from the Anti-Administration coalition.

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References

  1. "Massachusetts 1796 U.S. Senate, Special, Ballot 2". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing The Hampshire and Berkshire Chronicle (Springfield, MA). June 21, 1796.
  2. "Massachusetts 1796 U.S. Senate, Special, Ballot 2". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Political Gazette (Newburyport, MA). June 16, 1796.
  3. "New York 1796 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Journal of the New York Assembly, 1796. 18. Journal of the New York State Senate, 1796. 12.
  4. "Maryland 1796 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Charles Carroll to James McHenry. Nov. 28, 1796. Reel 2, Item 990. Charles Carroll Papers. Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore.
  5. "South Carolina 1796 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Aurora. General Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). December 30, 1796.
  6. "New Jersey 1796 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing The Albany Gazette (Albany, NY). November 21, 1796.
  7. "Delaware 1797 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Journal of the Delaware State Senate, 1797. 18.
  8. "Massachusetts 1796 U.S. Senate, Ballot 3". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Hampshire and Berkshire Chronicle (Springfield, MA). June 21, 1796.
  9. "New York 1797 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Journal of the New York Assembly, 1797. 68. Journal of the New York State Senate, 1797. 43-44.
  10. "Pennsylvania 1797 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing The New World (Philadelphia, PA). February 17, 1797.
  11. United States Congress. "William Cocke (id: C000572)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress . Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  12. "Virginia 1796 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing The Virginia Argus (Richmond, VA). December 2, 1796.
  13. 1 2 "Tennessee 1797 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved January 30, 2018., citing Commercial Advertiser (New York, NY). November 11, 1797.
  14. United States Congress. "William Blount (id: B000570)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress . Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  15. "Maryland 1797 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Aurora. General Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). December 13, 1797.