The election of 1789 was the first election held under the Constitution of 1798. Ten states chose electors to vote for President; North Carolina and Rhode Island had not ratified the Constitution, and the New York legislature was deadlocked.[1]
The remaining ten states' electors unanimously voted for George Washington. Since this election was held before the Twelfth Amendment, each elector voted for two separate people. The runner-up became Vice-President.
| Candidates | Electoral Vote |
|---|---|
| George Washington | 69 |
| John Adams | 34 |
| John Jay | 9 |
| Robert H. Harrison | 6 |
| John Rutledge | 6 |
| John Hancock | 4 |
| George Clinton | 3 |
| John Milton | 2 |
| Samuel Huntington | 2 |
| James Armstrong | 1 |
| Edward Telfair | 1 |
| Benjamin Lincoln | 1 |
| Non-Voters | 12 |
The votes show George Washington emerged as a clear winner. John Adams was by the time's system, the Vice President.[3]
References
- ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=59542
- ↑ http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/presidential/electoral.html
- ↑ A Pictoral History of the U.S. Presidents, by Clare Gibson, Gramercy Books, New York, 2001.