Hello and welcome to a history of the United States,

Episode 184, the Adams administration.

Last time out, we looked at George Washington's farewell address. He gave some passing wisdom

to the American people. He warned them of the dangers of foreign interference, of demagoguery,

and of partisan politics. He was optimistic

that there was more uniting Americans than dividing them, and that the young democracy would be

able to survive him. As he may expect, Washington's advice was largely ignored. Instead, over the next few years,

the United States would begin to tear itself apart, as it dived into party politics, so that by

1800, foreign commentators remarked that the government seemed likely to fall and civil conflict

to break out amongst the states.

Indeed, this would be the most divisive period the United States would see until the civil war.

Welcome, folks, to the Adams administration.

Without Washington, 1796 marks the first real test of the Electoral College.

The 138 electors of the 16 states set about choosing the second president of the United States.

There were very few rules about how exactly this was to work.

Each elector could vote for any two people

they wanted, as long as one of them was from out of state. The person with the most votes became

president, and the person with the second most votes would become vice president. If no one

achieved a majority, then the candidates with the five

most votes would advance to a second stage, where the House of Representatives would vote by

state delegation. This second step is crucial, as it's an indicator of how many, if not most,

of the founding fathers, expected the Constitution to work.

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