alternatehistory.com

When the US Constitution was drafted/ratified, it was generally assumed that Washington would become the first president (in fact, if it wasn't for him, Article Two of the Constitution would be completely different), so what if, shortly before or after the Constitution is ratified, Washington dies or is otherwise rendered incapable to run for president?

Would the electors unify behind another respected, uncontroversial figure? Benjamin Franklin is the most common answer in this scenario, but he was eighty-two at the time and would die IOTL only two years later, so in the off chance that he actually became president, the real question is who would be selected as his VP. Or would the election be competitive? The Federalists and Anti-Federalists weren't particularly organized at this time, but the former could easily rally behind John Adams, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, or some other person and the latter behind Clinton or Jefferson. In this case, I assume the Federalists would have the upper hand. Or would there be an entirely different scenario?
Top