Mount Vernon is owned and maintained by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, a private, non-profit organization. This was the only U.S. presidential election that spanned two calendar years without a contingent election and the first national presidential election in American history. Washington never really ran for president. Jefferson: McFarland & Company. Vice PresidentJohn Adamsfrom Massachusetts, Born out of the Anti-Federalist faction that had opposed the Constitution in 1788, the Democratic-Republican Party was the main opposition to the agenda of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. The United States presidential election of 1789 was the first presidential election in the United States of America. (Two electors from Maryland and two from Virginia neglected to vote; the New York State Legislature was deadlocked and no electors were appointed from that state.) A young but able soldier, he was inexplicably slow; and at times his hesitation allowed Washington's army to escape certain destruction. All Rights Reserved. On Feb. 13, 1793, the votes were counted during a joint session of Congress. Corrections? Three states, however, did not contribute to the vote total. Print. 12 other men were on the ballot for that first election in 1789. Suffering from diminished physical abilities, Pres. The complete list of candidates was as follows. Adams lost all of the electoral votes of Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Georgia. 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!" Because the two houses of the New York legislature could not agree on electors, the state did not cast its electoral vote. Washington was both an obvious first choice for president and possibly the only truly viable choice. Several other candidates sought the nomination, including Speaker of the House John Nance Garner of Texas (who found support in the west) and the party's 1928 candidate, Alfred Smith (who ran strong in the urban northeast). Yet, his dreams of a tranquil retirement were at odds with his peers andthe American people at large. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, 1983. George Washington had wished to retire at the end of his first term in office. [4] Congress took twenty-eight days to assemble. Each of the participating electors cast one vote for Washington, who was elected president. On January 7, 1927, the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team travels 48 miles west from Chicago to play their first game in Hinckley, Illinois. As a result, he became the first Vice President of the United States. [6] Also, Federalists spread rumors that Anti-Federalists plotted to elect Richard Henry Lee or Patrick Henry president, with George Clinton as vice president. Learn about the vital role that Washington played during our founding. Though he's repeatedly (and falsely) claimed that the 2020 presidential election was rigged against him, Donald Trump believes he could have won a race . 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. James Madison later called the rambling first draft a "strange production". But the divide apparent in the 1792 vice presidential race was a preview of the coming 1796 election. 1820 Presidential Election. [4], Nine of the 15 states eligible to chose representatives to the electoral college did so by a vote of the state legislature; the remaining six employed some form of popular vote. Illustration by Joe Ciardiello. As per the terms of the unamended constitution, each elector was permitted two votes for president, with a majority of "the whole number of electors appointed" necessary to elect a president. Voting in Revolutionary America: A Study of Elections in the Original Thirteen States, 17761789. Mount Vernon is owned and maintained by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, a private, non-profit organization. The recipient of the most votes would then become president, and the runner-up vice president. George Washington was unanimously elected for the first of his two terms as president and John Adams became the first vice president. Having lost the vice president position, he was appointed the 1st Chief Justice by President Washington. John Hancock did even worse. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial HighwayMount Vernon, Virginia 22121. Adams won 77 electoral votes, enough to win re-election. For the results of the subsequent election, see United States presidential election of 1792. Editor's . Have Any U.S. Presidents Decided Not to Run For a Second Term? The other six chose electors through some form involving a popular vote, though in only two states did the choice depend directly on a statewide vote. 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. From the mansion to lush gardens and grounds, intriguing museum galleries, immersive programs, and the distillery and gristmill. He worked at Britannica from 2004 to 2018. George Washington was the first President of the United States. [5], As the electors were selected, politics intruded, and the process was not free of rumors and intrigue. Washington was loath to leave the comforts of Mount Vernon, but his fellow Founding Fathers viewed his acceptance of the presidency as a foregone conclusion. The party further split on two key social issues: Catholicism and prohibition. The results of the 1789 U.S. presidential election are provided in the table. In New York, the race for governor was fought along these lines. Presidential candidates of the 21st century spend millions of dollars winning the endorsements of their parties and mounting nationwide campaigns. 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. For the results of the previous election, see United States presidential election of 1789. President Washington's inauguration was celebrated with illuminations and fireworks. The Mount Vernon Ladies Association has been maintaining the Mount Vernon Estate since they acquired it from the Washington family in 1858. "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. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial HighwayMount Vernon, Virginia 22121. Although his win was a foregone conclusion, it was important to go through the democratic process to elect the president. Washington set the precedents for how these roles would interact with the presidency, establishing the cabinet as the chief executive's private, trusted advisors. (g) The identity of this candidate comes from The Documentary History of the First Federal Elections (Gordon DenBoer (ed. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Who ran against George Washington for the role of president? 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. National Archives and Records Administration. Adams won 34 electoral votes and the vice presidency. Other candidates receiving multiple electoral votes were John Jay (9), Robert Harrison (6), John Rutledge (6), John Hancock (4), and George Clinton (3). All Rights Reserved. The Iowa Journal of History and Politics 2 (1904): 3-33. All Rights Reserved. At that moment, the Chancellor of the State of New York, Robert Livingston, the person who administered the oath to the first chief executive, exclaimed, "Long live George Washington, President of the United States! Need help with homework? Limited, primitive political campaigning occurred in states and localities where swaying public opinion might matter. There he enlisted in a unit formed by Irish Loyalists to fight the American colonials and General Washingtons Continental Army. Sixty-nine electors voted out of a possible 91. Many Democratic-Republicans would have preferred to nominate Thomas Jefferson, their ideological leader and Washington's Secretary of State. [2] A group of Democratic-Republican leaders met in Philadelphia in October 1792 and selected Clinton as the party's vice presidential candidate.[3]. He won the Presidents job based on his influence and experience. No other president since has come into office with a universal mandate to lead. Source (popular vote): A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 17871825[10]. 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. Florida Gov. [2] Adams easily secured re-election. The vote totals of Kentucky and Virginia appear to be lost. Federalists attacked Clinton for his past association with the anti-Federalists. In most states only white men, and in many only those who owned property, could vote. New York, however, failed to field a slate of electors. Considered the best artist in the city, he was the obvious choice for Washington's first presidential portrait. 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. (f) One elector from Virginia did not vote and another elector from Virginia was not chosen because an election district failed to submit returns. The Globetrotters were the creation of Abe Saperstein of Chicago, who took over coaching duties for a team of African American players read more, The confessed Colorado cannibal Alferd Packer is released from prison on parole after serving 18 years. His candidacy and subsequent victory are of little surprise, considering his place in United States history and politics. Although Washington had been considering retiring, both sides encouraged him to remain in office to bridge factional differences. Elected President. He took 50 votes against Adams 77. All Rights Reserved. Chernow, Ron (2004). American Presidential Campaigns and Elections. Discover what made Washington "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen". Another uncertainty was the choice for the vice presidency, which contained no definite job description beyond being the President's designated successor and presiding over the Senate. 2023 Mount Vernon Ladies Association. Washington is generally held by historians to have run unopposed. In 1789, the first presidential election, George Washingtonwas unanimously elected president of the United States. Indeed, that alone explains his willingness to endure eight years in the vice presidency, an office devoid of power. The opposition led by Jefferson and Madison would become known as the Democratic-Republican Party. Although electors arent constitutionally mandated to vote for the winner of the popular vote in their state, it is demanded by tradition and required by law in 26 states and the District of Columbia (in some states, violating this rule is punishable by $1,000 fine). Mount Vernon Ladies Association. The process began with each state having to choose its electors by January 7th, 1789. 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. 1. After the war, he becamefirmly established in New Yorks small artistic community. View the Primary Source:Washingtons First Inaugural Address|Second Inaugural Address. The sitting took place on October 3, 1789, probably in the president's official residence on Cherry Street in New York. Spend the day with us! Washington was inaugurated in New York City on April 30, 1789, 57 days after the First Congress convened. [2] In five states, the state legislature chose electors. Wiki User 2009-03-12 02:59:52 Study now See answer (1) Copy For all intents and purposes, the enormously popular Washington ran unopposed in both the. Two other candidates won the five remaining electoral votes. But there was never any evidence that it was true. Shade, William G., and Ballard C. Campbell. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1998. ", D. Jason BerggrenGeorgia Southwestern State University. The Constitution created the offices of President and Vice President, fully separating these offices from Congress. The most significant features of this book are Washingtons personal notes, penciled in the margins. In 1792, Washington received all 132 electoral votes, winning each of the fifteen states. 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. Madison was at first a Federalist until he opposed the establishment of Hamilton's First Bank of the United States in 1791. North Carolina and Rhode Island had not yet ratified the Constitution. Web. North Carolina and Rhode Island were unable to participate because they had not yet ratified the Constitution. In 1792, the second presidential election, George Washington was unanimously re-elected president of the United States. London, UK: Penguin Books. Major General William Howe Howe directed British troops during the early years of the war. In this election, George Washington was elected for the first of his two terms as President of the United States, and John Adams became . The Washington Library is open to all researchers and scholars, by appointment only. However, officially, there were three names on the ballot, with the other two deemed presidential candidates on a technicality. 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. . 19. level 2. Skeptics observe that Armstrong received his single vote from a Georgia elector. The 1796 United States presidential election was the third quadrennial presidential election of the United States. 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. The electors were split on their second choice: Adams received 77 votes to Clinton's 50, enough to secure a second-place finish behind Washington and the vice presidency. We don't accept government funding and rely upon private contributions to help preserve George Washington's home and legacy. Dinkin, Robert J. 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. Adams received the support of New England, South Carolina, and the Mid-Atlantic states (excepting New York), while Clinton carried New York and most of the South. Who ran against George Washington in the first election? Those secondary votes allowed for the first vice president and would determine the direction of domestic politics for years to come. 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. 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. (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. 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. 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. He received the congressional notification about his win on April 16th before taking part in the first-ever inauguration on April 30th. Washington appeared on all 69 ballots, while nearly half the voters cast their second vote for John Adams, who was duly elected vice president. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. We don't accept government funding and rely upon private contributions to help preserve George Washington's home and legacy. Answer (1 of 5): At the founding of the Republic, it was not expected that anyone would run for President. 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. 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