The American Montfort (1791–92 election)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

In spite of the dire predictions of its detractors and the ill-concealed hopes of European monarchies, the government of the Constitution would survive the three years of the first Congress' tenure—albeit not without controversy. While President Washington was formally the head of state, the general's advanced age and diminishing health meant that in practice the secretaries Cabinet would carry out the administration, and the young Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton emerged as a de facto prime minister. Under Hamilton's leadership, the Cabinet carried out a series of initiatives to establish the credit and legitimacy of the new government: some, as legislation to establish the federal judiciary, passed the House with little cause for rancor; but Hamilton's bold financial policy, outlined in his First Report on the Public Credit, proved so divisive that it threatened to turn the Congress against itself before the government was out of the cradle. Considering strong national credit to be the foundation of the country's prosperity and independence, Hamilton proposed to assume the debts incurred by the states during the War for Independence and to finance this policy with the creation of a National Bank. Anti-federalists and members from states whose debts were paid howled the prime minister had sold himself to speculators and British financiers, and though the bill narrowly passed, it was the end of Hamilton's congenial relationship with James Madison, who crossed the floor to join the opposition as the 1791 general election approached.

Hamilton's government seeks reelection on a promise to continue the financial reforms of the Report on Public Credit—including assumption and the Bank of the United States—and to maintain American neutrality in the face of the brewing revolutionary conflict in France. They are opposed by the Anti-federalist faction led by Madison, who is supported in the cabinet by his friend and mentor Thomas Jefferson, the Secretary of State. Madison's acolytes contend Hamilton's financial reforms are designed to concentrate wealth and power in the hands of a few and in effect render the central government a tool of the monied interests—an event they warn will increase sectional divisions and risk the rupture of the Union. Hamilton, in reply, maintains victory for the opposition would return the country to the chaos of the Articles of Confederation and leave the Union poor and defenseless against adversaries abroad.

Two days.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Federalists

[PSOL]

While I support a central bank, aiding our fellow French allies against the monarchs at home would solidify democracy and peace throughout the world. I’m going to give a tactical vote for the Anti-Federalists.

[F. Joe Haydn]

Federalists, in spite of their foreign policy.

[Kingpoleon]

Anti-Federalists. Madison>Hamilton, French>British.

[Former President tack50]

Anti-federalists easily

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

About three hours left of this—and a very interesting result it promises to be! Any number of post-election shenanigans may ensue, depending on if either leader can manage a strong majority.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The 1791–92 United States general election
For three years Alexander Hamilton had served his president and his country as prime minister, and if his tenure in office had proved the efficacy of Federalism to restore the legitimacy of the central government after the disastrous 1780s, the elections of 1791 and 1792 similarly proved its limitations. As a member of Cabinet and the leader of his party on the House floor, Hamilton demonstrated a political acumen that allowed him to achieve much in a relatively short period of time; yet his ambitious financial program proved more controversial than even his enemies originally anticipated, and his pro-British sympathies in the brewing conflict in Europe offended those who continued to view London as the natural enemy of the American republic. Aided by a ruthless press opposition, who branded Hamilton a monarchist and a would-be tyrant robbing the poor to feed the rich, the Anti-federalists led by James Madison made huge gains in the House of Representatives, picking up fifteen seats and all but annihilating the Federalists south of the Mason-Dixon line, where Hamilton's allies would hold just eight seats in the new House. Even so, the stalwart support of New England for the Federalists and a strong showing for the government in New York, where the Hamiltonian slate actually gained a seat from the opposition, prevented an outright victory for the Anti-federalists, who found themselves just short of a majority when the House gathered again at Philadelphia in the new year. With neither faction able to claim a clear mandate to govern, and the membership of the House almost evenly divided, the question of who was to lead the next government—and how—hung heavily in the air as Congress reconvened in Philadelphia on the fourth of March 1792.


Federalists (Alexander Hamilton) 35 seats (-11), 48.2% popular votes
Anti-Federalists (James Madison) 34 seats (+15), 51.8% popular votes