Adams and Jefferson participated in the first contested election in 1796. Adams wanted a much stronger federal than did Jefferson who favored letting the states settle most questions. After Jefferson lost in 1796, he tried to strengthen his party , fight the views of Adams and win in 1800, which he did.
President John Quincy Adams
He was elected by the House of Representatives, not the Electoral College.
The outcome of the 1796 presidential election was controversial because it resulted in the first contested election in American history. The Federalist candidate John Adams narrowly defeated the Democratic-Republican candidate Thomas Jefferson, but Adams's vice president was Jefferson's political rival, Thomas Pinckney. This created tension and a sense of political instability, as the president and vice president were from opposing parties.
One of the greatest problems that John Adams and the Federalists faced in the election of 1800 was the backlash against the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts. These acts, passed by the Federalist-controlled Congress, were seen as an infringement on individual liberties and freedom of speech. The opposition seized on this issue and used it to rally support for Thomas Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans.
John Adams won the election of 1828
Andrew Jackson, William H. Crawford and Henry Clay (All four were representing the Democratic-Republican Party.)
During the elections Adams beat Thomas Jefferson.
Adams lost the election that year to Thomas Jefferson.
It was controversial because he wasn't elected US President UNTIL 1980!
The election of John Quincy Adams was in 1924
It was the most controversial election in American History, later quoted by Washington, "the Corrupt Bargain."
He won it