On Feb. 13, 1793, the votes were counted during a joint session of Congress. All Rights Reserved. 1. Paullin, Charles O. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2000. Discover the Home of George and Martha Washington. All Rights Reserved. As expected, George Washington won the . Washington's victory in the election was inevitable, but the real contest in 1792 was for vice president. George Washington was unanimously elected for the first of his two terms as president and John Adams became the first vice president. (b) Less than 1.8% of the population voted: the 1790 Census would count a total population of 3.0 million with a free population of 2.4 million and 600,000 slaves in those states casting electoral votes. Craig R. Coenen. 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. Following the ratification of the Constitution by the necessary nine states in July of 1788, Congress set January 7 of the following year as the date by which states were required to choose electors. Considered the best artist in the city, he was the obvious choice for Washington's first presidential portrait. Elected President. With 69 electoral votes, Washington won the support of each participating elector. in English. University of Virginia. Historically, over 99 percent of all electors have cast their ballots in line with the voters. (a) New York's legislature did not choose electors on time. Different state legislatures chose different methods:[11]. This time, the field was narrow. There were 12 names on the ballot which is a lot by current standards where we are used to our two-party system and maybe some independents. Control of the bicameral New York State Legislature was divided following ratification of the federal constitution, and lawmakers could not reach an agreement to appoint electors for the forthcoming presidential contest. Yet, his dreams of a tranquil retirement were at odds with his peers andthe American people at large. In 1792, the second presidential election, George Washington was unanimously re-elected president of the United States. (a) Only 6 of the 15 states chose electors by any form of popular vote, while pre-Twelfth Amendment electoral vote rules obscure the intentions of the voters, and those states that did choose electors by popular vote restricted the vote via property requirements. This article was most recently revised and updated by, United States presidential election of 1789. Ten states cast electoral votes: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Clinton was from an electorally important swing state, and he convinced party leaders that he would be a stronger candidate than another New Yorker, Senator Aaron Burr. With a hand on the Bible, a "sacred volume" borrowed from a local Masonic lodge and subsequently known as the "George Washington Inaugural Bible," he said, "I, George Washington, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Who did George Washington run against? Adams received votes from 77 electors and Clinton 50; the four electors from Kentucky voted for Thomas Jefferson, and one South Carolina elector voted for Aaron Burr. Because the two houses of the New York legislature could not agree on electors, the state did not cast its electoral vote. The Constitution created the offices of President and Vice President, fully separating these offices from Congress. Learn more abouthow George Washington shaped the role and function of the President of the United States. North Carolina and Rhode Island were unable to participate because they had not yet ratified the Constitution. 1273 Words6 Pages. Clinton, the Governor of New York and a former anti-Federalist leader, became the party's nominee after he won the backing of Jefferson and James Madison. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty. Our Digital Encyclopedia has all of the answers students and teachers need. Behind Washington, John Adams, who most recently had served as the first U.S. ambassador to Great Britain, finished with 34 electoral votes and became the first vice president of the United States. James Madison later called the rambling first draft a "strange production". Aaron Burr, New Yorks attorney general, was briefly considered as a Republican candidate as well but ultimately ceded to Clinton. George Washington. John Adams and George Clinton both played a part in each election. Those chosen would cast their votes a month later, on February 4. Open 365 days a year, Mount Vernon is located just 15 miles south of Washington DC. The crossword clue possible answer is available in 5 letters. [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. Almost seven years later, there is still no evidence. These men would cast their votes just under a month later, on February 4th. Regional and partisan divisions were evident in the vote distribution. Washington appeared on all 69 ballots, while nearly half the voters cast their second vote for John Adams, who was duly elected vice president. Illustration by Joe Ciardiello. All 69 electors cast one vote for Washington, making his election unanimous. 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. As a result, his signature on the new Constitution was a deciding endorsement for some of those who had opposed federalization. Adams won 34 electoral votes and the vice presidency. People were so concerned about a President who would try to take too much power, that anyone who tried to obtain the job would not be considered. 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. This is also how John Adams ended up as our first vice president. 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. Who ran against George Washington for the role of president? The party further split on two key social issues: Catholicism and prohibition. (f) One elector from Virginia did not vote and another elector from Virginia was not chosen because an election district failed to submit returns. Major General William Howe Howe directed British troops during the early years of the war. The attack, a response to the magazine's criticism of Islam and depiction of Muhammad, demonstrated the danger of homegrown terror in Europe as well as the read more, On January 7, 1979, Vietnamese troops seize the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, toppling the brutal regime of Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge. Ramage was in Boston, Massachusetts when the Revolutionary War broke out. 2023 Mount Vernon Ladies Association. In an August 1788 letter, U.S. Minister to France Thomas Jefferson wrote that he considered John Adams and John Hancock, both from Massachusetts, to be the top contenders. A series of electors from each state would cast their votes for the chosen candidates one first-choice pick and one second-choice. Both North Carolina and Rhode Island were ineligible; neither had ratified the Constitution yet. The path to the presidency, and the task of leading a new nation, was uncharted territory for which there was no precedent. But Washington himself did absolutely no public campaigning, and even cast doubt on whether he would take the job if elected. President before 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). Editor's . The Campaign and Election of 1796: Throughout Washington's presidency, Vice President Adams regarded himself as the heir apparent. Boller, Paul, Jr. Presidential Campaigns. For the results of the subsequent election, see United States presidential election of 1792. February 2011. Washington was especially beloved in his native region and Southerners took special pride in his presidency. (b) Two electors from Maryland and one elector from Vermont did not cast votes. (d) As the New York legislature failed to appoint its allotted eight electors in time, there were no voting electors from New York. 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. Omissions? There he enlisted in a unit formed by Irish Loyalists to fight the American colonials and General Washingtons Continental Army. Spend the day with us! Suffering from diminished physical abilities, Pres. Source: A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787-1825[10], The Constitution, in Article II, Section 1, provided that the state legislatures should decide the manner in which their Electors were chosen. Print. "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. George Washington's copy of the Acts passed at a Congress of the United States of America (New-York, 1789) contains key founding documents establishing the Union: the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and a record of acts passed by the first Congress. George Washington, as the first president, was well aware of the great responsibility of defining the American presidency. Our Digital Encyclopedia has all of the answers students and teachers need. Chernow, Ron (2004). George Clinton, a vehement champion of states rights. Donald Trump. The executive function of government remained with the legislative similar to countries that use a parliamentary system. Mount Vernon Ladies Association. On Feb. 4, 1789, electors convened in 10 states to cast their ballots. According to Article II of the Constitution, each elector in the Electoral College possessed two votes. In an interview for a new book that spanned reflections on his "two presidencies" and January 6, former President Donald Trump bragged he could probably beat George Washington and Abraham. Two months passed after the election before the votes were counted and Washington was notified that he had been elected president. Who ran against George Washington in the first election? Because of this, it is difficult to use modern-day terminology to describe the relationship among the candidates in this election. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Free black men could vote in four Northern states, and women could vote in New Jersey until 1776. By then, Anderson was in the twilight of a career that was equal parts acclaimed and hamstrung by racism. On April 16, after receiving congressional notification of the honour, Washington set out from Mount Vernon, reaching New York City in time to be inaugurated on April 30 . Of the states with complete returns, only Pennsylvania saw real partisan competition; a Federalist electoral slate pledged to Washington and Adams was selected, although one elector voted for Washington and Clinton. (c) Those states that did choose electors by popular vote had widely varying restrictions on suffrage via property requirements. We don't accept government funding and rely upon private contributions to help preserve George Washington's home and legacy. The disaster, the worst mining catastrophe in Oklahomas history, was mainly due to the mine owners emphasis on profits over safety. : U of Connecticut, n.d, 1999. Presidential candidates of the 21st century spend millions of dollars winning the endorsements of their parties and mounting nationwide campaigns. (c) Those states that did choose electors by popular vote had widely varying restrictions on suffrage via property requirements. 1820 Presidential Election. George Clinton was the only anti-Federalist candidate to receive votes (3). 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. Donald Trump said he could beat George Washington in an election, even with Abraham Lincoln as running mate. On January 7, 1927, the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team travels 48 miles west from Chicago to play their first game in Hinckley, Illinois. But it's not the first time . (a) Only 6 of the 10 states casting electoral votes chose electors by any form of the popular vote. Yet, Ramage painted George Washington from the life and was the first artist to whom he sat as President of the United States. The battle for the vice presidency is interesting, looking at the votes cast for the second choice. [2] A group of Democratic-Republican leaders met in Philadelphia in October 1792 and selected Clinton as the party's vice presidential candidate.[3]. The United States presidential election of 1789 was the first presidential election in the United States of America. Unanimously elected twice, President George Washington helped shape the office's future role and powers, as well as set both formal and informal precedents for future presidents. Greenstein, Fred I. With 77 electoral votes, John Adamswas re-elected, positioning him well enough to become Washington's presidential heir apparent. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial HighwayMount Vernon, Virginia 22121. The results of the 1792 U.S. presidential election are provided in the table. Though filled with great anxiety, Washington reported for duty "in obedience to the public summons" and explained that "the voice of my Country called me. 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. John Hancock did even worse. Need help with homework? Under this system, each elector cast two votes: the candidate who received the greatest number of votes (so long as they won a majority) became president, while the runner-up became vice president. Anti-Federalist leaders such as Patrick Henry, who did not run, and George Clinton, who had opposed ratification of the Constitution, also represented potential choices. . America's first presidential election is held. Please select which sections you would like to print: John M. Cunningham graduated from Kalamazoo College in 2000 with a B.A. 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. READ MORE: Why Was the Electoral College Created? However, neither of those cities was Washington, D.C., as the seat of government did not move there until 1800. For example, Hamilton aimed to ensure that Adams did not inadvertently tie Washington in the electoral vote. Washington set the precedents for how these roles would interact with the presidency, establishing the cabinet as the chief executive's private, trusted advisors. The 1796 United States presidential election was the third quadrennial presidential election of the United States. Since leaving the hands of the Washington family in 1876, it has been treasured and preserved by several noted private collectors. Because Washington was from Virginia, then the largest state, many assumed that electors would choose a vice president from a northern state. Adams as the second-place finisher was elected vice president, serving until his election to the presidency in 1797; each of his three rivals would go on to serve as vice president in turn, Jefferson from 1797 to 1801 (when he alike succeeded to the presidency), Burr from 1801 to 1805, and Clinton from 1805 until his death in 1812. Every U.S. Presidential Election Since 1789. While no effort was made to unseat Washington as president, Anti-Federalists, led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, mounted a campaign during the year to replace the Federalist Vice Pres. The Khmer Rouge, organized by Pol Pot in the Cambodian jungle in the 1960s, advocated a radical Communist revolution that would wipe out read more, You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen because of the 1823 poem A Visit From St. Nicholas (aka Twas the Night Before Christmas), but your knowledge of Rudolphthe most famous reindeer of allcomes courtesy of a department store copywriter named Robert L. May, Mays read more, On January 7, 1999, the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, formally charged with lying under oath and obstructing justice, begins in the Senate. It was held from Friday, November 2, to Wednesday, December 5, 1792. Answer: The first presidential elections were conducted under a system that allowed electors to cast two votes, with the winner becoming President and the second place finisher becoming Vice President. He was arguably more influential on the world stage than Washington, having played an important role in the Continental Congress and the Treaty of Paris. During a presidential election year, on Election Day (the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November), the electors from the party that gets the most popular votes are elected in a winner-take-all-system, with the exception of Maine and Nebraska, which allocate electors proportionally. However, we cant forget that there was competition from 11 other men in that maiden presidential election. Retrieved October 28, 2022. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The first presidential election was held on the first Wednesday of January in 1789. The sitting took place on October 3, 1789, probably in the president's official residence on Cherry Street in New York. Omissions? Washington also did not run unopposed for the second election. Three states eligible to do so declined due to political tensions at the time North Carolina, Rhode Island, and New York. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 1988. Of the remaining candidates, only Adams, Jay, and Hancock received votes from more than one state; with 34 votes, Adams finished second behind only Washington, and by virtue of which fact was elected vice president. 19. level 2. Washington spent eight days traveling from Virginia to New York for the inauguration. [5], As the electors were selected, politics intruded, and the process was not free of rumors and intrigue. Washington is generally held by historians to have run unopposed. Who ran against George Washington in the first election? Other candidates receiving multiple electoral votes were John Jay (9), Robert Harrison (6), John Rutledge (6), John Hancock (4), and George Clinton (3). We don't accept government funding and rely upon private contributions to help preserve George Washington's home and legacy. Each state is allowed to choose as many electors as it has senators and representatives in Congress. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday will release his book, "The Courage to be Free," to much anticipation ahead of his expected plunge into the 2024 presidential race. Thus, the contest for the Vice-Presidency was open. His journey northward was a celebratory procession as people in every town and village through which he passed turned out to greet him, often with banners and speeches and in some places with triumphal arches. Effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies Rowman Littlefield... General William Howe Howe directed British troops during the early years of the subsequent election even! Directed British troops during the early years of the United States it #., ramage painted George Washington in an election, see United States the second election Carolina and Rhode were... Sat as president of the 10 States to cast their votes for the of! 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