Election of 1788-1789 Study Notes

Context and Constitutional Background

The election year is $1788-1789$ , the first presidential election after the ratification of the Constitution in $1787$ .
Under the Articles of Confederation there was no separate executive branch; there was a president of Congress. Samuel Huntington served as president of Congress when the Articles were ratified, so some sources note him as the technically first "president" in a limited sense, though not a head of state like the later presidency.
George Washington is the clear, unopposed centerpiece of the election: he is the most popular man in America, the wealthiest, with noted military exploits, and there were no political parties yet (Federalists vs Democratic-Republicans would form later).
Because there were no established political parties, the contest was effectively for second place rather than for the presidency itself.
The transition from the Articles to a new constitutional framework is central: Washington is seen as the natural consensus choice once the Constitution is ratified and the electors are chosen under the new system.
Light metaphor from the speaker: the election is framed as a pivotal moment in establishing the executive branch and national leadership, with a humorous aside about aliens asking for a leader.
Real-world relevance: this election sets the precedent for a strong, nationally elected executive and frames the early development of the American party and electoral system.

Electoral Process and Timeline

This is the only U.S. presidential election not held in a multiple of four due to the Constitution taking effect during the election cycle: the Constitution was ratified in $1787$ , so the presidential process occurs across $1788-1789$ .
The election period runs from December $15, 1788$ to January $10, 1789$ .
The electoral map is unanimous: George Washington receives all electoral votes available, making it the only unanimous presidential election in U.S. history.
Washington's total electoral votes: $69$ from the $10$ states that cast electoral votes.
Reasons some states did not participate: New York could not organize; North Carolina and Rhode Island had not ratified the Constitution yet.
States with no popular vote to cast electors: $ext{South Carolina}, ext{Connecticut}, ext{Georgia}, ext{New Jersey}$ .

States, Votes, and Direct Democracy

The fact that several states did not have a popular vote to cast electors means the election was not a full national direct democracy in this early period.
Total states in the union at the time: $13$ .
The participation gap: only $10$ states cast electoral votes; the remaining three did not participate due to ratification status.
This underscores the transitional nature of the era—from the Confederation framework to a centralized federal system with a national electoral college.

Key Figures and Electoral Mechanics

Absence of the 12th Amendment: there was no separate ballot for President and Vice President. Electors cast two votes for president; the top vote-getter became president, the runner-up became vice president.
Rumor-mongering context: Alexander Hamilton spread rumors that anti-Federalists like Patrick Henry and George Clinton (Governor of New York) might hijack the election.
To counter this, electors were arranged to split votes in a way that ensured John Adams would be the vice president rather than a rival anti-Federal candidate.
John Adams’ result: $34$ electoral votes, making him the vice president under Washington.
Major contenders and landscape: with no formal parties yet, the main opposition or alternative leaders were anti-Federalists, while Federalists aligned with Hamilton and Washington’s leadership (though not yet an organized party system).
The shift from a wartime hero to a constitutional executive is framed as the path forward for the new United States.

Election Results

George Washington: unanimous victory, receiving all available electoral votes from the participating states: $69$ votes from $10$ states.
John Adams: $34$ electoral votes, becoming the vice president under Washington.
The result reinforces the absence of a formal party slate at this stage and highlights the centralized consensus around Washington as a national figure.
The election is framed as a contest for second place rather than the presidency due to Washington’s overwhelming popularity and lack of opposing candidates.

Aftermath and Legacy

Washington serves two terms as president beginning in 1789 and ending with his resignation after the second term.
John Adams serves as the second-place candidate, becoming the first Vice President under the new constitutional framework; Adams would later become president in 1796.
Thomas Jefferson would win the presidency in the election of 1800, marking a significant political shift in the early republic.
The absence of formal political parties is notable, with party competition gradually forming in the ensuing years, evolving from Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
This election helps establish the structure of the Electoral College under the new Constitution and underscores the transitional period from the Articles of Confederation to a functioning federal republic.

Notable Observations and Philosophical/Practical Implications

Direct democracy vs. electoral selection: several states lacked popular votes to select electors, which questions the extent of popular sovereignty in the early system and foreshadows evolving democratic practices.
Elite consensus vs. rising political organization: Washington’s universal appeal demonstrates a strong elite consensus, even as political parties were not yet formalized; this sets the stage for later party development.
Electoral mechanics and anti-federal concerns: the absence of the 12th Amendment influenced how ballots were designed and how votes were counted, illustrating the growing pains of a new constitutional framework.
The rumor-mill and strategic voting: the use of strategic ballot allocation to counter Anti-Federal influence reveals the practical realities of coalition-building in the early republic.
Ethical and practical implications: reliance on a single overwhelming candidate vs. the risk of reduced popular participation in some states raises questions about representation, legitimacy, and the balance of power between states and the national government.
Real-world relevance: this inaugural electoral process informs modern debates about the Electoral College, the balance between state participation and national leadership, and the evolution of party politics.

Quick Reference Facts

Constitution ratified: $1787$ .
Election period: $12/15/1788 o 01/10/1789$ .
Washington's electoral votes: $69$ .
States that cast electoral votes: $10$ .
Total states in the Union at the time: $13$ .
States without ratification: $ext{New York}, ext{North Carolina}, ext{Rhode Island}$ .
States with no popular vote to elect electors: $ext{South Carolina}, ext{Connecticut}, ext{Georgia}, ext{New Jersey}$ .
Adams' electoral votes: $34$ .
12th Amendment: ratified later, in $1804$ , changing how electors vote for President and Vice President (separate ballots).
The arc of leadership: Washington serves two terms; Adams becomes president in $1796$ ; Thomas Jefferson wins in $1800$ .
Memorable catchphrase from the presenter: "where attention goes, energy flows".

Connections to Foundational Principles and Real-World Relevance

This election illustrates the transition from a confederation-style government to a strong national government with an independent executive.
It highlights the interplay between state ratification status and national electoral reach, emphasizing the complexity of forming a unified national electorate in a new constitutional framework.
The emergence of a functioning presidential system during a time of developing political identity foreshadows the later evolution of American political parties and the evolving interpretation of federal power.

Exam Preparation: Potential Questions

Why was the election of 1788-1789 unique in its timing and structure?
What role did the Articles of Confederation play in shaping the first presidential election?
How did the absence of the 12th Amendment affect the election of the first Vice President?
Which states did not participate in the election, and why?
How many electoral votes did George Washington receive, and how many states cast electoral votes for him?
What was John Adams’ electoral vote tally, and what position did that place him in the new government?
What does this election reveal about the early development of political parties in the United States?

Note on Language and Style

The notes preserve the textbook-like details and the historical context presented in the transcript, including the light, humorous framing used in the source.