New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. Cooper, William J., Jr. Liberty and Slavery: Southern Politics to 1860. Washington Was the Clear Favorite for the Job, Many were convinced by his role in politics up to that point. A History of U.S. Presidential Elections in Maps, https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1789, George Washington's Mount Vernon - Presidential Election of 1789, Maps of World - U.S. Presidential Election 1789, Gilbert Stuart: portrait of George Washington, United States presidential election of 1792. Congress did not officially count the Electoral College until February 13, 1793. Many of these names are no longer widely known following their loss and lack of later political achievement. February 2011. Thomas Jefferson resigned his post as Secretary of State in 1792, while James Madison organized an anti-administration front in the Congress. Source: .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}Dubin, Michael J. Bowling, Kenneth R., and Donald R. Kennon. However, officially, there were three names on the ballot, with the other two deemed presidential candidates on a technicality. The next highest total was that of Founding Father, He was also one of the anonymous writers responsible for the, He received the congressional notification about his win on April 16th before taking part in the first-ever, Washingtons Election for the Second Presidential Term. For the results of the subsequent election, see United States presidential election of 1796. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. Learn more abouthow George Washington shaped the role and function of the President of the United States. United States Presidential Elections, 1788-1860: The Official Results by County and State. University of Virginia. Defenders of Washingtons policies would become the Federalist Party. **In this election, and in others until 1804, each elector voted for two individuals without indicating which was to be president and which was to be vice president. (d) As the New York legislature failed to appoint its allotted eight electors in time, there were no voting electors from New York. President before election. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 2000. READ MORE: Every U.S. Presidential Election Since 1789. "Voting and American Democracy." From there, the rest of the field received very few votes each. He made the comments to Washington Post journalists in an . On Democracy. Other candidates receiving multiple electoral votes were John Jay (9), Robert Harrison (6), John Rutledge (6), John Hancock (4), and George Clinton (3). Required fields are marked *. The Washington Post ran with it the first day, as if it were true. All Rights Reserved. John Adams. The vote totals of Virginia appear to be incomplete. Elected President. Washington was elected unanimously, receiving one vote from every elector. When Washington, in his Farewell Address, published in September 1796, announced his intention to . "I walk on untrodden ground," was a frequent comment he made in the days leading up to his first inauguration. North Carolina and Rhode Island had not yet ratified the Constitution. He came across the Hudson River in a specially built barge decorated in red, white, and blue. Who ran against George Washington in the first election? They had no chance of unseating Washington, but hoped to win the vice presidency by defeating the incumbent, Adams. The path to the presidency, and the task of leading a new nation, was uncharted territory for which there was no precedent. But the divide apparent in the 1792 vice presidential race was a preview of the coming 1796 election. [4] Congress took twenty-eight days to assemble. United States presidential election of 1792, American presidential election held in 1792, in which George Washington unanimously won a second term as president of the United States. There was no precedent for this office in a world full of kings, leaving Washington the monumental task of figuring out how to act like a president. Both factions supported Washington for president. 11037. On February 4, 1789, the Electoral College convened. Major General William Howe Howe directed British troops during the early years of the war. ), University of Wisconsin Press, 1984, p.441). Bills to govern the selection of electors were proposed in each house and rejected by the other, leading to an impasse. Learn more about George Washington's annotated copy of The Acts of Congress - one of the prized holdings in our Library collection. Washington was especially beloved in his native region and Southerners took special pride in his presidency. Who ran against George Washington for the role of president? Athens, O.: United States Capitol Historical Society by Ohio U, 1999. Retrieved October 28, 2022. The president and vice president are the only elected federal officials chosen by the Electoral College instead of by direct popular vote. Almost seven years later, there is still no evidence. On January 6, as a formality, the electoral votes are counted before Congress and on January 20, the commander in chief is sworn into office. was voting in a mayoral election for the first time since moving to the city four years ago . Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Since leaving the hands of the Washington family in 1876, it has been treasured and preserved by several noted private collectors. One of the reasons we rarely hear about the presidential race and competition for the top job was that Washingtons presidency was a foregone conclusion. Voting was hampered by poor communications and infrastructure and the labor demands imposed by farming. Discover the Home of George and Martha Washington, The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington. The 1796 United States presidential election was the third quadrennial presidential election of the United States. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1987. This is also how John Adams ended up as our first vice president. He presided over the Constitutional Convention and encouraged some unsure about the new Constitution to, There Were 12 Candidates on the Final Ballot, John Adams Was a Worthy and Popular Opponent, He was arguably more influential on the world stage than Washington, having played an important role in the Continental Congress and the, Other Well-Known Figures Didnt Do As Well, From there, the rest of the field received very few votes each. Six of the fifteen states chose electors by any form of popular vote. On the other hand, Washington could not escape his conscience. Our Digital Encyclopedia has all of the answers students and teachers need. Need help with homework? First president who ran for election and won? (a) New York's legislature did not choose electors on time. ", D. Jason BerggrenGeorgia Southwestern State University. The party further split on two key social issues: Catholicism and prohibition. It was held from Monday, December 15, 1788, to Saturday, January 10, 1789, under the new Constitution ratified that same year. This happened in the elections of 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000 and 2016. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-u-s-presidential-election. Bibliography:Boller, Paul, Jr. Presidential Campaigns. The Washington Library is open to all researchers and scholars, by appointment only. Presidential Greatness. OnMay 16 1789, Mrs. Washington and her grandchildren, Nelly and Washy, embarked on an 11-day journey through Baltimore, Philadelphia, and more. The recipient of the most votes would then become president, and the runner-up vice president. The battle for the vice presidency is interesting, looking at the votes cast for the second choice. 2023 Mount Vernon Ladies Association. The successful execution of a second democratic election in the United States helped legitimize the institution of the American presidency. As the only true national, interregional hero, Washington--the inevitable president in 1789--had become the indispensable president. As a result, his signature on the new Constitution was a deciding endorsement for some of those who had opposed federalization. In order to win the presidency, a candidate needs a majority of 270 electoral votes out of a possible 538. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 1988. Of the 72 electors, all but three cast their ballots (electors voted for two candidates). Who ran against George Washington for the role of president? In short, we can celebrate that Founding Father George Washington was so highly beloved and respected that every elector cast their first vote for him. The inaugural ceremony was performed on Wall Street, near the spot now marked by John Quincy Adams Wards statue of Washington. ISBN9780786410170. Donald Trump. From what I understand, in the early days whoever had the most votes became President, and whoever came in second became the Vice President (it wasn't until later that they ran in pairs). 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Of course, everyone also loves a president that served in the military as General Washington did. We don't accept government funding and rely upon private contributions to help preserve George Washington's home and legacy. United States presidential election of 1789, American presidential election held on Feb. 4, 1789, in which George Washington was unanimously chosen as the first president of the United States by electors from 10 of the 13 extant states. Washington also did not run unopposed for the second election. Critics of the Electoral College argue that the winner-take-all system makes it possible for a candidate to be elected president even if he gets fewer popular votes than his opponent. A Whig who sympathized with the Americans, Howe took over as the commander in chief of the British Army in 1776. Because few doubted that Washington would receive the greatest number of votes, Adams and Clinton were effectively competing for the vice presidency; under the letter of the law, however, they were technically candidates for president competing against Washington. (2002). Although Washington had been considering retiring, both sides encouraged him to remain in office to bridge factional differences. Members of the U.S. Congress, though, cant be electors. Mount Vernon Ladies Association. Washington ascended to the presidency with practical experience, having served as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and president of the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Thefirst draft of over seventy pages had been prepared by Washington's aide David Humphreys and included extensive recommendations to Congress on such topics as internal improvements, military affairs, international treaties, and the expansion of national borders. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1982. It was held from Friday, November 4 to Wednesday, December 7, 1796. Mount Vernon is owned and maintained by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, a private, non-profit organization. Another described the streets as "so dense that it seemed as if one might literally walk on the heads of people". Print. February 20, 2017. The retired general said that he had "no wish which aspires beyond the humble and happy lot of living and dying a private citizen" at his Mount Vernon farm. On February 13, 1793, a joint session of Congress counted the Electoral College votes from the second presidential election and George Washington was unanimously elected, again. In 1789, the first presidential election, George Washington was unanimously elected president of the United States. Citizens of the new nation showed up in droves. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty. However, neither of those cities was Washington, D.C., as the seat of government did not move there until 1800. Please select which sections you would like to print: Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. We don't accept government funding and rely upon private contributions to help preserve George Washington's home and legacy. Three states eligible to do so declined due to political tensions at the time North Carolina, Rhode Island, and New York. Many were convinced by his role in politics up to that point. London, UK: Penguin Books. President George Washington served his first term with Adams as his vice president from April 1789. North Carolina, Rhode Island, and New York abstained from the process; the former two states had not ratified the Constitution, and the latter was in the midst of an internecine legislative conflict. One exhilarated eyewitness recalled that " my sensibility was wound to such a pitch that I could do no more than wave my hat with the rest, without the power of joining in the requested acclamations which rent the air!" 46. Open 365 days a year, Mount Vernon is located just 15 miles south of Washington DC. Having lost the vice president position, he was appointed the 1st Chief Justice by President Washington. Aware that he would be closely scrutinized, Washington self-consciously chose clothing and household furnishings that would convey a particular message about his style and character. Congress sets January 7, 1789 as the date by which states are required to choose electors for the country's first-ever presidential election. We don't accept government funding and rely upon private contributions to help preserve George Washington's home and legacy. By 1792, a party division had emerged between Federalists led by Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, who desired a stronger federal government with a leading role in the economy, and the Democratic-Republicans led by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and Representative James Madison of Virginia, who favored states' rights and opposed Hamilton's economic program. John Adams. The opposition led by Jefferson and Madison would become known as the Democratic-Republican Party. Three states, however, did not contribute to the vote total. View the Primary Source:Washingtons First Inaugural Address|Second Inaugural Address. The distribution of the electoral vote between the four runners-up showed a high degree of party discipline, with only two electors voting contrary to the majority in their state. (f) One elector from Virginia did not vote and another elector from Virginia was not chosen because an election district failed to submit returns. [3] Adams received 34 electoral votes, one short of a majority because the Constitution did not require an outright majority in the Electoral College prior to ratification of the Twelfth Amendment to elect a runner-up as vice president, Adams was elected to that post. Did you know that President Washington never lived in Washington D.C.? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). In addition to defining the actual powers of the office, Washington also needed to show the new nation how the leader of a democracy should behave socially. Reichley, A. James. With 77 electoral votes, John Adamswas re-elected, positioning him well enough to become Washington's presidential heir apparent. Further Resources About: Who Ran Against George Washington? A month later, on February 4,George Washington was elected president by state electors and sworn into office on April 30, 1789. The 1792 United States presidential election was the second quadrennial presidential election. Even before the Constitution was ratified, rumors spread declaring George Washington would likely elected first President of the United States (much to the dismay of Washington himself). Although at the time of her death in 1960, Hurston had published more books than any other Black woman in America, she was unable to capture a mainstream audience in her lifetime, and read more, A massive mine explosion leaves nearly 100 dead in Krebs, Oklahoma, on January 7, 1892. Shade, William G., and Ballard C. Campbell. The process began with each state having to choose its electors by January 7th, 1789. Retrieved July 30, 2005. Florida Gov. Commenting on his re-election, Washington proclaimed, "I am again called upon by the voice of my country to execute the functions of its chief magistrate. Free black men could vote in four Northern states, and women could vote in New Jersey until 1776. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. George Washingtons cabinet included just four original members: Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of War Henry Knox, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph. (a) Only six of the 11 states eligible to cast electoral votes chose electors by any form of popular vote. We don't accept government funding and rely upon private contributions to help preserve George Washington's home and legacy. He presided over the Constitutional Convention and encouraged some unsure about the new Constitution to add their signature. Washington believed that the precedents he set must make the presidency powerful enough to function effectively in the national government, but at the same time these practices could not show any tendency toward monarchy or dictatorship. On Feb. 4, 1789, electors convened in 10 states to cast their ballots. One of the ragged legions of gold and silver prospectors who combed the Rocky Mountains searching for fortune in the 1860s,AlferdPacker also supplemented his meager income read more, On January 7, 1891, Zora Neale Hurston, novelist and folklorist, is born inNotasulga, Alabama. New York, however, failed to field a slate of electors. A great crowd broke into cheers as Washington, standing on the balcony of Federal Hall, took the oath administered by Chancellor Robert Livingston and retired indoors to read to Congress his inaugural address. Need help with homework? Roosevelt's decision to break the precedent set by George Washington was made in July 1940, as the United States neared its entry into World War II. (Two electors from Maryland and one from Vermont were absent and did not vote.) After winning the Revolutionary War and helping set up the new government for his country at the Constitutional Convention, George Washington'sthoughts turned away from battlefields and assembly halls to a much more modest arena-- his home at his Mount Vernon estate -- and the opportunity of "living and dying a private citizen on my own farm.". Though all states allowed some rudimentary form of popular vote, only six ratifying states allowed any form of popular vote specifically for presidential electors. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. John Jay was similar to John Adams regarding his influence in politics and foreign affairs. Washington was both an obvious first choice for president and possibly the only truly viable choice. Armonk, NY: Sharpe Reference, 2003. During the first election, Washington won the electors of all ten eligible states. As expected, George Washington won the . The Federalist Party threw its support behind the incumbent vice president, John Adams of Massachusetts, while the Democratic-Republican Party backed the candidacy of New York Governor George Clinton. 2022 US Constitution All rights reserved. (b) Pre-Twelfth Amendment electoral vote rules obscure the intentions of the voters(c) Those states that did choose electors by popular vote had widely varying restrictions on suffrage via property requirements. But, all of the 64 electors unanimously agreed on George Washington as their first pick. George Washington was unanimously elected for the first of his two terms as president and John Adams became the first vice president. Chernow, Ron (2004). [2] In five states, the state legislature chose electors. All 69 electors cast one vote for Washington, making his election unanimous. All Rights Reserved. Clinton finished in third place with 50 electoral votes, taking his home state of New York as well as three Southern states. Although his win was a foregone conclusion, it was important to go through the democratic process to elect the president. Corrections? All Rights Reserved. All Rights Reserved. In 1789, the first presidential election, George Washingtonwas unanimously elected president of the United States. Federal power, strictly limited, was reserved to the Congress of the Confederation whose "President of the United States in Congress Assembled" was also chair of the Committee of the States which aimed to fulfill a function similar to that of the modern Cabinet. Learn about the vital role that Washington played during our founding. Those secondary votes allowed for the first vice president and would determine the direction of domestic politics for years to come. States had varying methods for choosing presidential electors. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Sixty-nine electors voted out of a possible 91. Today political parties usually nominate their slate of electors at their state conventions or by a vote of the partys central state committee, with party loyalists often being picked for the job. As expected, Washington received the maximum of 132 electoral votes and was therefore reelected as president. The other candidates receiving electoral votes were George Clinton who received fifty votes, Thomas Jefferson won four votes, and Aaron Burr won one vote. We don't accept government funding and rely upon private contributions to help preserve George Washington's home and legacy. Advertisement. For the results of the previous election, see United States presidential election of 1789. Strange, Fun and Weird Facts about US Presidents. After a private meeting at Mount Vernon, Madison prepared a drastically more concise address whichleft more open to Congress's discretion. Limited, primitive political campaigning occurred in states and localities where swaying public opinion might matter. From the mansion to lush gardens and grounds, intriguing museum galleries, immersive programs, and the distillery and gristmill. Answer (1 of 5): At the founding of the Republic, it was not expected that anyone would run for President. His persistence and devotion to his men and his perpetual mindfulness of the ideals for which they were fighting won him the respect and loyalty of many. "Alexander Hamilton". Historian Edward J. Larsen discusses Washington's first inauguration in this video from Mount Vernon on Vimeo. (b) Two electors from Maryland and one elector from Vermont did not cast votes. On November 5, 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt won a third term in officean unprecedented act that would be barred by a constitutional amendment a decade later. But there was never any evidence that it was true. Which president candidate ran against George W. Bush in 2004? (a) Only 6 of the 15 states chose electors by any form of popular vote. Although James Degnan went on the radio to plead for his daughters safety, the kidnapper never made any contact or read more, Just six days after the fall of the Fulgencio Batista dictatorship in Cuba, U.S. officials recognize the new provisional government of the island nation. Being from Massachusetts, Adams election provided the administration a regional balance between the South and North. The deadlock still stood on January 7, 1789, the last day for electors to be chosen by the states, and New York thus failed to appoint the eight electors allocated to it by the constitution. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1998. He was also one of the anonymous writers responsible for the Federalist Papers in the lead-up to the creation of the United States Constitution. The first presidential election was held on the first Wednesday of January in 1789. As a result, he became the first Vice President of the United States. Aaron Burr, New Yorks attorney general, was briefly considered as a Republican candidate as well but ultimately ceded to Clinton. No formal political parties existed, though an informally organized consistent difference of opinion had already manifested between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Anonymous writers responsible for the Job, many were convinced by who ran against george washington in the first election in... 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