Election of 1792*

NO CONVENTIONS. NO PLATFORMS. NO NOMINATIONS.

Party organization had just begun. Those acting under the general name of Anti-Federalists, although having many minor differences, were now (spring of 1792) united into one party, taking the name of Democratic-Republican.

The Federalist and Democratic-Republicans both supported President Washington for a second term.

For Vice-President, the Federalists supported John Adams, of Massachusetts.

The Democratic-Republicans supported George Clinton, of New York.

The election occurred on November 6, 1792.
FIFTEEN STATES VOTED.

Electors were chosen by the legislatures in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Vermont.

*Previous to the election in 1792, Congress passed an act (March 1, 1792) regulating the holding of elections for the selection of President and VicePresident, which act fixed the succession in the office in case of death or disability.

The vote, as counted on February 13, 1793, resulted as

NOTE. The voting at this time by the electors was according to the old clause of the Constitution (art. II, sec. 2), which required the electors to vote for two persons, the one receiving the majority to be President, and the one receiving the next greatest number to be Vice-President.

George Washington was elected President and John Adams as Vice-President.

During this period Congress was divided politically as follows:

Election of 1796

NO CONVENTIONS. NO PLATFORMS. NO NOMINATIONS.

The Republicans, now organized, rallied in an effort to defeat the Federalists. It was late in the year before the Farewell Address of Washington was made public. (It was dated September 17, 1796.) Without either caucus or convention the candidates had been already designated by popular agreement.

The Democratic-Republicans supported—

For President, Thomas Jefferson,

The election occurred on November 8, 1796.

SIXTEEN STATES VOTED.

Electors were chosen by the legislatures in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vermont.