Washington dies in 1790

“It appears to me that the union of the states and consequently the permanency of the government depend under Providence upon his [Washingon's] life. At this early day when neither our finances are arranged nor our government sufficiently cemented to promise duration, his death would ... have ... the most disastrous consequences.”
- Abagail Adams



In May of 1790, President George Washington was temporarily incapacitated by a severe case of influenza. Although it was widely thought he would die, neither Congress or the Vice President took action. Any transfer of executive power would be seen by the public as a coup d'etat and no one in the federal government was quite sure what would happen if the President died in office. There were no provisions in place until 1792.

What if Washington died in late May, having only served thirteen months in office?
 
President Adams

There were no provisions in place until 1792.

Well there was the Constitutional provision!

-John Adams become 2nd President.
-Congress to makes a Succession Act of 1790 or 1791.
- Federalist Hamiltonian faction gains Adams favor and the Jeffersonian / Madison faction breaks away to form their own party a little ahead of OTL.
 
The two term custom does not emerge, I am guessing that John Adams runs in 92 and 96 and 1800 ( where things may well follow otl and Jefferson might want to stay President for logner
 
Well there was the Constitutional provision!

-John Adams become 2nd President.
-Congress to makes a Succession Act of 1790 or 1791.
- Federalist Hamiltonian faction gains Adams favor and the Jeffersonian / Madison faction breaks away to form their own party a little ahead of OTL.

The wording of the Constitution was a bit vague in regards to the responsibilities of the Vice President and how succession would occur. The specific conditions were not laid out nor was procedure defined. Many argued that the Congress had to declare the President disabled while others felt that only the President himself could do so. There's also the issue of title. When the President dies, does he assume the office or only the responsibilities of it? Is he President or Acting President? Does he retain the duties of the Vice President?

A vary small glimpse of this was seen with John Tyler, whose legitimacy as President was questioned constantly. There were some who even argued that an entirely new election should be held. It created a disarray in the American political scene.

Given that the youth of the nation at this point in time, it seems that these questions and tensions would only be exacerbated. There is nothing set in stone.
 
The wording of the Constitution was a bit vague in regards to the responsibilities of the Vice President and how succession would occur. The specific conditions were not laid out nor was procedure defined. Many argued that the Congress had to declare the President disabled while others felt that only the President himself could do so. There's also the issue of title. When the President dies, does he assume the office or only the responsibilities of it? Is he President or Acting President? Does he retain the duties of the Vice President?

A vary small glimpse of this was seen with John Tyler, whose legitimacy as President was questioned constantly. There were some who even argued that an entirely new election should be held. It created a disarray in the American political scene.

Given that the youth of the nation at this point in time, it seems that these questions and tensions would only be exacerbated. There is nothing set in stone.

On the flip side, they would have had greater clarity regarding "the founders' intent".:D
 
On the flip side, they would have had greater clarity regarding "the founders' intent".:D

I would suppose so. Then again, I'm not sure certain founders, like Madison and Jefferson, are going to be impartial. That might create a stir.


Madison would be debating the Bill of Rights in the House of Representatives at in May. At the very least, Washington's death would derail the debate and delay their eventual ratification. I wouldn't be surprised to see a variation of the 25th Amendment included either with or shortly after the Bill.
 
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