1788–89 United States Presidential Election
The 1788–89 United States presidential election was the first quadrennial (every four years) presidential election, was held from Monday, December 15, 1788 -TO- Saturday, January 10, 1789, under the newly ratified 1788 Constitution. George Washington was unanimously elected for the first of his two (2) terms as President and John Adams became the first Vice President. This was the only U.S. presidential election spanning two calendar years (1788 and 1789).
Under the Articles of Confederation, the United States had no head of state. The Constitution created the offices of President and Vice President and established an Electoral College, based on each state’s Congressional representation: each elector would cast two votes for two different candidates. This was modified in 1804 by ratification of the Twelfth Amendment.
After Washington agreed to come out of retirement, it was known he would be elected by virtual acclaim; Washington did not select a running mate. Why? This concept was not yet developed. No formal political parties existed, though an informally organized consistent difference of opinion existed between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Thus, the contest for the Vice-Presidency was open.
The person with the most votes won presidency and the runner up was vice president. All 69 electors cast one vote for Washington, making his election unanimous. Adams won 34 electoral votes and the vice presidency. The remaining 35 electoral votes were split among 10 different candidates.
On April 16, after receiving congressional notification of the honor, Washington set out from Mount Vernon, reaching New York City in time to be inaugurated on April 30. He came across the Hudson River in a specially built barge decorated in red, white, and blue. Washington was clad in a brown suit of American manufacture, but he wore white stockings and a sword after the fashion of European courts.
Washington was inaugurated in New York City on April 30, 1789, 57 days after the First Congress convened.
https://proecclesia.blogspot.com/2014/04/225-years-ago-today-first-presidential.html
– Ronda McCauley