What I didn't realize about founding father elections

If you think about what you learned in school about Presidential elections for the first few decades; obviously slaves and women couldn't vote; political parties were basically nonexistent; and the Presidents voluntary limited themselves to two terms.

I just now realized there was a massive factor that I don't even remember learning.

How about you? Can you guess what it is? If not, are you surprised by the spoiler?

And look at the quality of the leaders we got because
of it.

Quote: Evenbob

And look at the quality of the leaders we got because
of it.

I knew that USA was almost completely rural at birth. The first census of 1790 counted almost 4 million people and there were only 5 urban areas with more than 10,000 people.


But I simply had no idea that out of 4 million people you could have a presidential election with fewer than 30K votes. No wonder George Washington was unanimously elected twice.

And it didn't expand very fast either. The ninth election (32 years later) was a re-election of Madison for his 2nd term. No one was running against him. Although you would expect a boring election like that to have a low turnout, it was also less than 1% of the population.

Even the election of 1812, which was a war year, and had a relatively large turnout still didn't exceed 4% of the population.

Essentially the founding fathers were elected by a tiny tiny elite.

Quote: Pacomartin

Essentially the founding fathers were elected by a tiny tiny elite.

Has this really changed? Look at the superdelegates that were pledged to Hillary Clinton, making the nomination a virtual lock. In 2000, Bush and Gore had the fields cleared for the most part. Democrats have kept it cleared for the most part, GOP a little less so, though they did all they could to knock Trump off.

It still happens, just people think they have choice now.

Quote: Pacomartin

I just now realized there was a massive factor that I don't even remember learning.

A lot of history gets glossed over by necessity. A lot more, it often feels, is glossed over to preserve historical myths.

Presidential elections aside, who was elegible to vote for Congressional elections? also, knowing that Senators were appointed by the states, who was elegible to vote in state elections?

Past that, there were a number of important, but undramatic, elections in the whole process of independence. There was a Continental Congress. there were numerous conventions involving delegates. Colonies had elections for their own governments, which then acted in the war of independence. and plenty more.

Who voted for all these people, and who were left out?

Quote: AZDuffman

Democrats have kept it cleared for the most part, GOP a little less so, though they did all they could to knock Trump off.

That's why Trump has so upset everyone,
especially his own party. He wasn't one
of the pre selected by the elite golden
boys, he's a complete outsider and they
just can't stand it. This was not supposed
to happen. Ever.

It was a perfect storm. A well known and very
likable candidate, against a not liked and
frumpy old has-been who could barely lurch
herself onto the stage and fell down a lot.

Quote: Nareed

also, knowing that Senators were appointed by the states, who was elegible to vote in state elections?

Do you mean in the first congress no one voted for the 21-26 Senators?

March 4, 1789 – March 4, 1791
Senate President John Adams (P)
Senate Pres. pro tem John Langdon (P)
House Speaker Frederick Muhlenberg (P)
Members 21–26 Senators
59–65 Representatives
1st: March 4, 1789 – September 29, 1789
2nd: January 4, 1790 – August 12, 1790
3rd: December 6, 1790 – March 3, 1791

I guess there is more things I didn't know.

Quote: Pacomartin

Do you mean in the first congress no one voted for the 21-26 Senators?

I meant 1) how did states go about appointing senators (governor, legislature, both, etc.) and 2) who was eligible to vote in each state for governor and state legislators?

That's one reason I like the 17th amendment.

Quote: Nareed

That's one reason I like the 17th amendment.

You make me feel stupid. I didn't know that either.

Quote: Pacomartin

You make me feel stupid. I didn't know that either.

I didn't about a month ago, either, if that makes you feel any better.

That's when some of the states' dictatorship people started agitating to repeal the 17th. Apparently a state has interests that are completely divorced from those of the people living in those states.

I knew Senators were appointed at first, then that changed. But I din't know exactly how or when.