United States Presidential Election, 1788 (America without Washington)

The United States Presidential Election, 1788 was the 1st quadrennial presidential election. It took place from November 4, 1788 to December 7, 1788. It was the first American Presidential Election under the new United States Consitution, which was signed by America's founding father. In this election, John Jay won against Thomas Jefferson and would serve two-terms as the first President of the United States of America under the new Consitution.

It was decided by Congress, in order to compromise with state electors and the popular vote, that a president could run for as many terms for presidency as he or she wanted as long as the popular vote did not rise more than 5% from the last election. Example, if President A wins by 52% in his 1st term but in his 2nd term wins by 58% he loses his elgibility for another term. If President A wins by 52% in his 1st term and wins by 53% in his second term he is still allowed to run for office until he goes up 5% from his previous election.

The main issues of this election was the ratification of the United States Consitution and the difference betwen Federalists and Anti-Federalists.

Candidates
Due to his enormous popularity, General George Washington was on heavy pressure to run for office. He decided months before the primary elections that he would not run for office because "family time was missing during the years of the war and must be repaired." (Washington, 1788)

Federalist Candidates

John Adams

John Jay

John Rutledge

John Hancock

Samuel Huntington

Benjamin Lincoln

Anti-Federalist Candidates 

George Clinton

Democratic-Republican Candidates 

Thomas Jefferson

Samuel Huntington

General Election
The Anti-Federalist Party was denied access to the ballot because George Clinton sustained from the primary election, due to being the only candidate for that party, they were not representated at all. Some from George Clinton's homestate of New York were angry at this because they felt the Federalist forced George Clinton to sustain and many in the country protested by sustaining to vote until he was on the ballot. Clinton was never put on the ballot, as a result, the turnout was at an all time low of 0.2%.

The results were tallied and finalized on January 10, 1789 (almost one month after voting). John Jay beat Thomas Jefferson with a voting difference of 2,784.