1789 General Election - Main Campaign Thread (Results)

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1789 General Election:

A total of 65 seats are up for contention,
meaning a required majority of at least 33 seats

While most of the states will elect their Deputies by district,
Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Connecticut and New Jersey will elect them at-large

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Sole Turn: The Start of Something New:

January 1st to March 31st, 1789

In the News!

First General Election across the United States!

Few Americans with the right to vote, great uncertainty

Who shall become the First Secretary?

Adams, Madison, Franklin seen as most likely contenders

Louis XVI calls the Estates General

Seeking to solve the French deficit, French Monarch takes a gamble

1.- Turn: This turn lasts for the months of January, February and March. Travel times are still rather long by this time in history, so account for that if you decide to travel elsewhere to campaign (no campaigning in Philadelphia and at the next day in Charleston). This is the first election, so feel free to be creative on how you decide to fight your way through the election. Shady political intrigue is not off the table, so feel free to conspire with other players or come to me if you wish to deploy a given scheme.

GREAT UNCERTAINITY ON FIRST ELECTION:

As the limited number of available voters prepares to cast their ballots for the first ever National Assembly, a sense of confusion engulfs the country as no clear figure emerges as an undisputable frontrunner as First Secretary. With General Washington gone no one can eclipse his figure, and independent President Hancock is expected to be a non-factor in the coming election. As a result, most Americans bet on the better-known figures as more likely to attract support, with much positive speculation going to Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams and, curiously enough, young James Madison (who emerged with an increase profile after the Constitutional Convention alongside Alexander Hamilton), all seen as possible candidates to reach the highest office.

Still, it is assumed by most observers that the election couldn't possibly see a winner with an outright majority given the lack of national parties and the presence of strong regional factions which will likely hold the balance of power. Jackson, Wilkinson, Hamilton and possibly Jay (whose strenght is hard to gauge at the moment) could end up as Kingmakers in the National Assembly even if the office of First Secretary escapes their hands. With most Americans still struggling to understand the system and no precedents for such a national campaign, many wait with great interest - domestically and across Europe - to see just what is going to take place.

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Travel Times:

(If you're ever doubtful about how long it should take to travel from one state to the other, check this for help)

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The Despot of Boston!

Samuel Adams attacked by mysterious propaganda as as brutish thug

Opponents of Adams across the nation have started to chant the monicker

PHILADELPHIA - The start of the campaign for the 1789 National Assembly has surprised men and women on several corners of the nation as harsh attacks are launched between the faction, opening the campaign on a unexpectedly harsh tone. But even as the public attacks in newspapers and pamphlets are stepping up anonymous campaigns have begun to sprung on several areas and directed to a particular individual: Samuel Adams, head of the so called Adamsites or Whigs, and key political figure in the state of Massachusetts.

As it has been angrily noted by some of his supporters - against the glee of those who distrust the powerful politician -, Adams appears to be the ongoing subject of a well-organized campaign to harm his reputation before the election, with methods such as a wide array of letters describing him not only as a "brutish thug" devoted to the use of violence and criminal gangs to reach his political goals, but as a tyrant to the state of Massachusetts who rulers the area with an "Iron Fist". As angry supporters of Adams denounce these tactics and come to the support of their man, Adams's many opponents have taken a liking to the sobriquet and begun openly describing him in the press as the Despot of Boston.

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Philanderer of Philadelphia?

Rumors arise of Franklin's affair with a slave, rejected by some as outlandish

Has Franklin done the unthinkable and taken a slave for a mistress?

PHILADELPHIA - Rumors continue to spread out of control as the 1789 campaign advances, and this time taken to an almost extreme level: anonymous publications have begun to spread accusing Benjamin Franklin's anti-slavery views as motivated because of a supposed relationship with a female slave, an outrageous act for a man as widely respected (if not as widely supported) as Mr. Franklin.

The rumors have been noted to lack actual evidence to be supported, and the result has been decidedly mixed, with many across the South up in arms against Franklin and his Radicals as slave lovers and many across the North and the border states outright refusing to believe the rumors or describing them as slander. It is certain that this rumour has hurt Franklin and his fellow candidates, but so long as no evidence emerges the effect may not be as harsh as some may have expected.

And while many Americans grow more and more disgusted with the tone of the campaign, anti-Franklin press has already appointed the elder statesman as the Philanderer of Philadelphia.

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Lover boy?

Scandal in New York as pamphlets accuse Hamilton of serial infidelity

Alexander Hamilton, serial adulterer?

NEW YORK CITY - Scandal exploded this week among the high society of New York after pamphlets and various types of propaganda emerged targeting Hamiltonian leader Colonel Alexander Hamilton. To the surprise of many, the propaganda has been aimed at portraying Hamilton as an adulterer to has been unfaithful to his highly regarded wife multiple times, having had a series of torrid affairs. While the rumor has led many to gossip about Colonel Hamilton and hurt his standing amongst several religiously conservative voters, it has also been angrily denounced by Elizabeth Hamilton and the powerful Schuyler family, describing it as "garbage propaganda" with no proof. With substantial numbers of Americans becoming more and more uncertain following such a round of scandals and accusations, it remains to be seen whether it will seriously derail Hamilton's chances or backfire on whoever started this campaign.

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1789 GENERAL ELECTION

GEORGIA:

RESULTS: With the Tories essentially killing off their chances across the South on account of their slavery platform, the state of Georgia was a bitter contest between Patriot and Democratic-Republican candidates, along with an important Western and Hamiltonian base. Successfully appealing to the sentiment of the region the Patriots managed to win Augusta in a landslide, and narrowly fend off DR and Western challenges in Wilkes and Savannah (Patriot Leader James Jackson managing a small but workable lead to become a Deputy). The success of the Patriots was matched at the state legislature, securing the Governor and having the State Legislature appoint two Patriot senators to Philadelphia.

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SOUTH CAROLINA:

RESULTS: The battle for South Carolina featured the continued struggle for the South between Patriots and Democratic-Republicans, leaving a significant group of voters in support of a stronger government scrambling for an alternative and finding it in the Hamiltonians. The Patriots successfully defeated the Westerns in Newberry Courthouse and won another seat adjacent to Georgia, while the Democratic Republicans overcame their challenge in the northeast. The Hamiltonians had some reasons to cheer when winning the seat of Charleston, although some believe they could have done much better across the state had they strongly campaigned in it. With the pro-limited government factions cancelling each other the Hamiltonians secured the Governor, and the State Legislature sent one Hamiltonian and one Democratic Republican to the Senate.

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NORTH CAROLINA:

RESULTS: Featuring a similar dynamic to South Carolina, North Carolina was nonetheless influenced by a higher share of the Western vote due to them standing in two constituencies, managing to win the westernmost seat while losing the other to the Hamiltonians. The other seats, while still featuring a respectable amont of pro stronger-government voters, saw another fierce battle between Patriots and Democratic Republicans which resulted in the victory of the former, narrowly edging two seats against a single DR deputy. However, it was the Democratic Republicans who won over the Governor and a substantial part of the State Legislature, which sent one Democratic Republican and one Patriot to the Senate.

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VIRGINIA:

RESULTS: While featuring its own share of battleground seats, the state of Virginia could only be considered as the Democratic-Republican stronghold per excellence. Strong performances (even landslides) for James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe helped secure 6 of the 10 seats for the Democratic Republicans, with the Patriots only managing to narrowly edge Madison's candidates in two seats. The Western faction featured its strongest result in this state, with General Wilkinson entering the National Assembly to represent Kentucky and winning another seat for his faction in Kanawha. The Governor and the State Legislature proved a staunch DR fortress, and as a result the Democratic Republicans sent 2 Senators to Philadelphia.

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MARYLAND:

RESULTS: An interesting state due to the entry of the Radicals into the contest, Maryland was a hotly contested battleground right as the Patriots began to lose strength the more the map moved to the North. The result was a decisive edge for the Democratic Republicans as the Radicals recovered voters which may have voted Hamiltonian otherwise, and as a result Madison's faction won over four of Maryland's seats as the Hamiltonians held the line in Anne Arundel and General Wilkinson's Patriots won a controversial and very narrow victory in Frederick in a three-way battle against Hamiltonians and Radicals. Despite the DR victories by plurality the Governor was a member of the Hamiltonian faction, and with a divided State Legislature one Hamiltonian and one Democratic Republican were elected to the Senate. 

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DELAWARE:

RESULTS: With just one seat to be elected, Delaware nonetheless proved an electoral bloodbath as six of the seven factions in the elections contested the seat. Resulting a curious game of which faction was less hurt by other standing one and which strategies proved superior. With staunch anti-slavery platforms hurting Tories and Radicals among swing voters and the Patriots removing a key component of the Democratic-Republican base, the contest (which nonetheless featured most parties coming very close) saw a knife-edge battle between the Hamiltonian and the Whig candidate. In the end, it was superior press efforts by the Whigs that won the day. The Hamiltonians nonetheless obtained the Governorship and a significant part of the State Legislature, which sent one Hamiltonian and one Whig to the Senate.

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PENNSYLVANIA:

RESULTS: Pennsylvania as an at-large proved an interesting battle as list of candidates battled each other, name recognition proving an important factor to overcome the record 36 candidates who contested the eight seats. As a result, fierce battles ensued as the electors faced the issue of not really knowing most of the candidates, and in that scenario it was beloved native son Benjamin Franklin who pulled ahead and took one of his proteges with him. The Hamiltonians were behind electing two deputies (the second of which just barely), while the Whigs and Westerns secured a deputy each through  respectable amounts of support. The true bloodbath ensued over the final two seats, finally awared to the Tories (Gouverneur Morris) and the Democratic Republicans (Frederick Muhlenberg) by a couple dozen votes. The Radicals also triumphed by recieving the Governorship and a decent standing at the State Legislature, which elected one Radical and one Hamiltonian to the Senate.

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NEW JERSEY:

RESULTS: One of the states more in support of the current Constitution as well as the principles espoused by Hamiltonians and Tories, the state resulted in a strong fight between both factions for control as Democratic Republicans and Radicals failed to catch-up, and the Whigs not standing in. In the end, the continued press war against the Tories which left them severely damaged nationwide hurt their vote and left them with one deputy, the Hamiltonians capturing the other three. Having taken the Governorship and the State Legislature, they sent two Hamiltonian Senators despite a compromise attempt to send a Tory Senator as well.

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NEW YORK:

RESULTS: Much like Pennsylvania the state of New York was easily one of the most hotly-contested battlegrounds in the nation, particularly as the fight was held across constituencies and not at-large seats. The result was a confusing series of duels in which most elected Deputies failed to win a substantial majority, which became the case for the newly elected Democratic-Republican, Westerner and Tory Leader John Jay, whose narrow victory against the Whigs and Hamiltonians in City of New York & Westchester could be a decisive factor in keeping his faction alive after the consistent onslaught on his character and policies. The Whigs won Dutchess convincingly, and Alexander Hamilton was elected Deputy for Suffolk and Queen's alongside another of his candidates in Ulster. The Democratic Republicans nonetheless had the luck of having the powerful Governor as one of their own, and as a result of several votes the divided State Legislature sent one Democratic Republican and one Hamiltonian to the Senate.

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CONNECTICUT and RHODE ISLAND:

RESULTS: The battle for Connecticut and Rhode Island featured a much different sort of battle than most of the country as the Democratic Republicans (seen by this stage as too southerner to some voters in New England) started to lose steam and give way to the Whigs, a faction which was seen by many self-described supporters of the rights of individual states as very appealing to them. In the end, the Whigs put up a decent fight across both states and managed to secure a seat on Connecticut as the Tories won another, but the indisputable winner (on their last strong performance before more hostile ground) was the Hamiltonians on account of winning the remaining four seats. Equally decisive was the influence this had on the Senate, as by virtue of having the Connecticut governorship and strong local support in Rhode Island they sent three more Senators to Philadelphia, the outstanding one a Whig as the Rhode Island Governor decisively chose to support Samuel Adams's faction.

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MASSACHUSETTS:

RESULTS: Massachusetts was at the start considered to be one of the states in which interesting battleground battles would ensue, and while there were significant fights (particularly in the press) the state proved to be a huge fortress for Samuel Adams and his faction in the vein of Virginia for the Democratic Republicans. Overcoming several Radical, Hamiltonian and Democratic Republican challengers five of the eight seats went for the Whigs (resulting in Samuel and John Adams entering the National Assembly), with one each for the Radicals and Democratic Republicans. A curious surprise developed when the Tories managed to win the seat of Maine, aided by a significant number of pro-British voters who openly embraced Jay's appeal to them. In full control of Governorship and State Legislature, two Whigs went to represent Massachusetts in the Senate.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE:

RESULTS: The final state up for contention, New Hampshire looked like a competitive state on paper given the amount of factions with a credible shot at winning one of the three seats. Indeed, many looked forward to the fight for the third seat, and failed to account for the power of the Gilman family and their strong efforts towards the Radical cause, which resulted in Nicholas Gilman and one of his supporters becoming Deputies as the final seat went to the Democratic-Republicans by only a hundred votes against an Whig and a Hamiltonian. In an important development for the Radicals, Gilman and his supporters managed to control the governorship and a healthy pluralilty in the State Legislature, which after a heated debate sent a Radical and a Democratic Republican to the Senate.

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1789 GENERAL ELECTION

FINAL RESULTS:

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY:

Democratic Republican: 17
Hamiltonian: 14
Patriot: 9
Whig: 9
Western: 6
Radical: 5
Tory: 5

SENATE:

Hamiltonian: 10
Democratic Republican: 7
Whig: 4
Patriot: 3
Radical: 2

GOVERNORS:

Hamiltonian: 5
Democratic Republican: 3
Whig: 2
Radical: 2
Patriot: 1

OVERVIEW:

The 1789 Campaign was to go in history as a very controversial and divisive start to parliamentary government in the United States of America, particularly as no one envisioned just how vicious the campaign would be. Despite Washington's dream of a nation without political parties no less than seven different political factions went to do battle and took no prisoners. The press was flooded with furious and even radical attacks on several key political figures, and scandals seemed to erupt every day in the hopes of undermining a given candiddate. While many of these attacks had a successful event - the Tory faction was essentially eviscerated in the press, and the fire on the Democratic Republicans cost Madison significant support -, others backfired as many Americans started to tune out of the newspapers in disgust at what they had been reading.

A new National Assembly had been elected, but many of its representatives were only elected through very narrow margins and the general view among many in the public was of distrust towards this new body elected through such a poisonous, violent campaign. James Madison and his Democratic Republicans emerged as the strongest party in the deeply divided National Assembly with Alexander Hamilton and his followers in a close second, but neither in a position to easily form a government by bringing a single party on board. Indeed, it seemed certain the United States would have a First Secretary of a multi-party government or a very weak multi-party administration, and this in a scenario in which the Senate produced a much stronger Hamiltonian presence than the National Assembly.

Ultimately and when looking at the results, President John Hancock started to work by contacting the different political factions to get them to agree on the new government. It was important to reach an agreement soon, lest instability and uncertainty took over.