The correct response to how the election of 1796 increased political party tensions is: President John Adams and Vice President Thomas Jefferson belonged to different political parties and did not agree on government policy.
This election was significant because it marked the first time in U.S. history that the presidency and vice-presidency were held by members of different political parties (Adams was a Federalist and Jefferson was a Democratic-Republican), which led to conflicting political agendas and heightened partisan tensions.