In 1789, the Constitution had been ratified and was now the law of the land. The United States was ready to begin its new government. The Constitution explained how the government would work, but the country still needed people to fill important jobs. Americans would need representatives, senators, judges, and a president. Since no one had ever been president before, nobody knew exactly what the job would look like.
On March 4, 1789, the new federal government officially began operating under the Constitution. Congress met in New York City, which was the nation's first capital. One of the first things the new government needed to do was choose a president.
The Constitution created the Electoral College. Under this system, states selected electors who would vote for the president. Between December 1788 and January 1789, states chose their electors. On February 4, 1789, the electors cast their votes.
George Washington received all 69 electoral votes. He became the first president of the United States. John Adams received the second-highest number of votes and became vice president. Washington's victory was not surprising. At the time, there were no political parties or national election campaigns like there are today. Many electors based their decisions on a candidate's reputation and past service to the country.
Washington was already one of the best-known people in the United States. During the Revolutionary War, he served as commander of the Continental Army and helped lead the colonies to victory against Great Britain. He had also attended the Constitutional Convention, where delegates worked to create the new Constitution. Many Americans respected Washington and trusted his leadership.
Washington did not actively campaign for the presidency. In fact, he had hoped to retire to his home at Mount Vernon after years of public service. Still, he believed it was his duty to serve if the country needed him. When he learned that he had been elected, he accepted the responsibility of becoming the nation's first president.
Although the Constitution created a new government, many challenges still remained. The country needed to strengthen its economy, work with foreign nations, keep the states united, and decide how much power the federal government should have. As Washington prepared to take office, Americans hoped he could help lead the new nation through these challenges.
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