Beatrice Lang
George Washington was elected as the first president of the United States in 1789, receiving 69 electoral votes from 10 of the 13 extant states. Washington was elected unanimously, with all 69 electors present casting one vote for him. Three states were ineligible to participate in the election: New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. Washington's campaign was managed by Colonel James Wood, who procured 160 gallons of alcoholic drinks and distributed them for free to 391 voters in the county. Washington won the election with more than 39% of the vote. He was inaugurated in New York City on April 30, 1789, and was re-elected in 1792, receiving 132 electoral votes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of election | 1789 |
| Number of electors | 72 |
| Number of votes received | 69 |
| Number of states | 13 |
| Number of votes cast | 132 |
| Number of votes for John Adams | 77 |
| Number of votes for George Clinton | 50 |
| Number of states with complete returns | 4 |
| Number of electors appointed by state legislature | 9 |
| Number of states with popular vote | 6 |
| Number of candidates | 12 |
| Number of votes for John Jay | 9 |
| Number of votes for Robert Harrison | 6 |
| Number of votes for John Rutledge | 6 |
| Number of votes for John Hancock | 4 |
| Number of votes for George Clinton | 3 |
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What You'll Learn
George Washington was the first president of the United States
Washington's campaign was managed by Colonel James Wood, who procured 160 gallons of alcoholic drinks and distributed them for free to 391 voters in the county. Washington won the election with more than 39% of the vote. He was inaugurated in New York City on April 30, 1789, 57 days after the First Congress convened.
Washington ascended to the presidency with practical experience, having served as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He was also distinguished as the former Commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
In 1792, Washington was re-elected president, again with a unanimous vote in the electoral college. He was essentially unopposed, receiving 132 electoral votes.
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He was elected in 1789 with 69 electoral votes
George Washington was the first president of the United States, elected in 1789 with 69 electoral votes. Washington was a national hero and the favourite son of Virginia, the largest state at the time. He was also the former Commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
The 1789 election was the first US presidential election, with electors from 10 of the 13 extant states voting. Washington was elected unanimously, with each of the 69 participating electors casting one vote for him. No other president since has come into office with such a universal mandate to lead.
The US Constitution, ratified in 1788, established an Electoral College, based on each state's congressional representation. Each elector was permitted to cast two votes for two candidates, a procedure that was modified in 1804 by the ratification of the Twelfth Amendment. The candidate who received a majority of the votes was elected president, and the runner-up became vice president.
In the 1789 election, John Adams, who had served as the first US ambassador to Great Britain, received 34 electoral votes and became the first vice president of the United States. Washington's unanimous election and Adams' near-majority of 34 votes out of 69 total demonstrated the strong support for their leadership.
Washington's election set a precedent for future presidents and shaped the role and powers of the presidency. His experience and leadership during the Revolutionary War also influenced the development of the office.
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He was unanimously elected by 10 of the 13 states
George Washington was the first President of the United States, and he was unanimously elected with 69 electoral votes. He was elected for the first of his two terms as president, and John Adams became the first vice president. Washington was elected by 10 of the 13 states, with three states being ineligible to participate in the election. New York's legislature did not choose electors on time, and North Carolina and Rhode Island had not ratified the constitution yet.
The election was held from December 15, 1788, to January 7, 1789, under the new Constitution ratified in 1788. Washington was inaugurated in New York City on April 30, 1789, 57 days after the First Congress convened. He was distinguished as the former Commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Washington did not select a running mate as that concept was not yet developed. No formal political parties existed, though an informally organized consistent difference of opinion had already manifested between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Thus, the contest for the vice-presidency was open. Thomas Jefferson predicted that a popular Northern leader such as Governor John Hancock of Massachusetts or John Adams, a former minister to Great Britain, would be elected vice president.
Washington's election was unanimous, with all 69 electors present casting one vote for him. Adams won 34 electoral votes and the vice presidency. The remaining 35 electoral votes were split among 10 candidates, including John Jay, who finished third with nine electoral votes.
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Washington was commander-in-chief of the Continental Army
George Washington was the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. On June 19, 1775, the Continental Congress commissioned him as Commander in Chief, and he assumed command of the Continental Army in Cambridge on July 3, 1775. Washington was chosen over other candidates, such as John Hancock, due to his military experience and the belief that a leader from Virginia could help unite the colonies. He had previously served as a colonel in the Virginia militia and had experience in the French and Indian War, which taught him the intricacies of warfare on the American continent.
Washington's appointment as commander-in-chief came at a critical time for the Continental Army. The American Revolution had begun in April 1775 with the Battle of Lexington and Concord, and the Continental Congress was assembling an army in Boston. Washington's leadership and military expertise were crucial in organizing and leading the army during the revolution. He is often credited with playing a pivotal role in the eventual victory over the British, and his performance in this role may have been instrumental in the creation of the United States.
John Adams, a delegate from Massachusetts, played a key role in Washington's appointment as commander-in-chief. Adams nominated Washington, citing his "skill and experience as an officer, whose independent fortune, great talents, and excellent universal character would command the approbation of all America, and unite the cordial exertions of all the colonies better than any other person in the Union." The nomination was seconded by Samuel Adams, who argued that southern colonies' support was contingent on the selection of a Virginian leader.
Washington's commission as commander-in-chief lasted for eight years until he resigned on December 23, 1783. His military leadership and strategic abilities during the revolution laid the foundation for his future political career. Washington's experience as commander-in-chief also contributed to his unanimous election as the first president of the United States in 1789, where he received 69 electoral votes. He was re-elected for a second term in 1792, again by a unanimous vote in the electoral college.
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John Adams was elected vice president
In 1789, George Washington was elected as the first president of the United States. Washington was a national hero and the favourite son of Virginia, the largest state at the time. He was also a former commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Washington was elected unanimously with 69 votes from 69 electors.
John Adams was elected as the first vice president of the United States in 1789. He received 34 votes, finishing second behind Washington. Adams was from Massachusetts, providing a regional balance between the south and north in the administration.
Adams was elected to two terms as vice president under Washington. However, he was excluded from Washington's inner circle and relied on the advice of Alexander Hamilton and other members of his cabinet. Adams was determined to have a say in public affairs, but there were others in his own party of Federalists who were just as determined to limit his influence.
Adams was eventually elected as the second president of the United States in 1796 under the banner of the Federalist Party. He won the presidency by a narrow margin, receiving 71 electoral votes to 68 for Thomas Jefferson, who became the vice president. Adams's term as president was dominated by the issue of the French Revolutionary Wars, and his insistence on American neutrality led to fierce criticism from both the Jeffersonian Republicans and some in his own party.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, George Washington was elected with the Electoral College. In the 1788-89 United States presidential election, Washington was unanimously elected president with 69 electoral votes.
The Electoral College was established by the framers of the Constitution as a compromise between the election of the President by Congress and the election of the President by popular vote. Each elector in the Electoral College possessed two votes. The candidate who received a majority of the votes was elected president, and the runner-up was elected vice president.
Ten out of the thirteen extant states participated in the Electoral College that elected Washington. North Carolina and Rhode Island had not ratified the Constitution, and New York was in the midst of an internecine legislative conflict and so abstained from the process.
John Adams was elected vice president. He received 34 electoral votes and became the first vice president of the United States.
