WI: Washington had died prior to the US’s first presidential election?

Pretty much as the tin says. What if after ratification of the US Constitution but prior to the first election, Washington had died for whatever reason? He set a lot of precedents for the office. So, who would likely have been the first President? What impact would that have on the office and the country as a whole?
 
In the absence of George Washington, the main contenders to serve as first President under the new Constitution were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Alexander Hamilton wanted the presidency for himself, but was too unpopular to obtain much support. In a calculating move, he threw his support behind Adams, who won a close election of 1789.

Once Adams was in office, Hamilton proceeded to discretely undermine the new President's authority, through rumormongering and various legislative machinations in the Congress. Adams lost the subsequent election to Thomas Jefferson and his running mate, Aaron Burr. Due to the timing of Jefferson's election and service in office (1793-1801--becoming the first President to serve two four-year terms), Jefferson never had the opportunity to execute the Louisiana Purchase.

Hamilton himself because the Federalist standard-bearer in the election of 1800. Winning the presidency over Aaron Burr, Hamilton proceded to consolidate presidential power, using patronage to stack his cabinet with those he deemed would be loyal to Hamilton personally.

The effects of the Hamilton presidency were both acute and long-lasting: After the election of 1800, the presidency became the pre-eminent branch of federal authority. Madison vs. Marbury never took place, thus the concept of the judiciary ruling on the "constitutionality" of laws never developed. Additionally, although Congress retained the power to enact legislation, due to Federalist majorities in both houses of Congress during Hamilton's term, it became ordinary for Congress to do the bidding of the executive branch, and Congress never fully developed itself to be the check on Executive power that it became IOTL.
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
In the absence of George Washington, the main contenders to serve as first President under the new Constitution were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Alexander Hamilton wanted the presidency for himself, but was too unpopular to obtain much support.

It's true that Adams was chosen as Vice President, but this was primarily to give New England a counter to the South, since the new President was going to be a Virginian. Without Washington in the President's chair, there's really no reason to pick Adams. There were several political leaders with as much or more clout than Adams.

Jefferson was not yet the political power he would later become. Indeed, his term of office as the governor of Virginia had been a disaster and raised questions about his competence. He was seen as one of America's premier diplomats, so I think he would have ended up as Secretary of State no matter who was put into office in Virginia, or he would have remained as Minister to France (which was what he wanted).

Hamilton? Hardly anybody cared one whit about him at this point. It wasn't until after he had worked his economic magic as Secretary of the Treasury that he built a following.
 
It's true that Adams was chosen as Vice President, but this was primarily to give New England a counter to the South, since the new President was going to be a Virginian. Without Washington in the President's chair, there's really no reason to pick Adams. There were several political leaders with as much or more clout than Adams.

Jefferson was not yet the political power he would later become. Indeed, his term of office as the governor of Virginia had been a disaster and raised questions about his competence. He was seen as one of America's premier diplomats, so I think he would have ended up as Secretary of State no matter who was put into office in Virginia, or he would have remained as Minister to France (which was what he wanted).

Hamilton? Hardly anybody cared one whit about him at this point. It wasn't until after he had worked his economic magic as Secretary of the Treasury that he built a following.

So who do you think the electors would consider?
 
So who do you think the electors would consider?


Maybe James Madison? He was the nearest thing to the author of the Constitution.

OTOH, a Franklin Presidency might be interesting. He dies in 1790. So does the VP do as Tyler did, and serve the rest of the term? Or do you get a new election, as I've heard it claimed that Madison and others intended?
 
Maybe James Madison? He was the nearest thing to the author of the Constitution.

OTOH, a Franklin Presidency might be interesting. He dies in 1790. So does the VP do as Tyler did, and serve the rest of the term? Or do you get a new election, as I've heard it claimed that Madison and others intended?

So, assuming James Madison becomes the first President...

He'd be 37/38 as President. Would that set a precedence for younger Presidents...? Also, theoretically he could continue to run for President for a while since there would be no precedence for him to step down after two terms and he'd only be 45/46 after his first two terms.
 
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