Jay Cost is a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the Center for Faith and Freedom at Grove City College.
Constitutionally Speaking
Jay Cost and Luke Thompson make the case that all Americans should study the Constitution.
Episode 22: The First Federal Election
Jay and Luke discuss the first federal election, held in 1788-1789.
In this episode of Constitutionally Speaking, Jay and Luke discuss the first federal election, held in 1788-1789. In many parts of the country, the contests were a proxy over whether the new Constitution was a good plan of government. This was especially the case in Virginia, where Governor Patrick Henry schemed to keep James Madison out of Congress by pitting him against James Monroe in an Anti-Federalist district. But Henry miscalculated. Madison won a comfortable victory, and nationwide the pro-Constitution forces triumphed. This landmark victory for the Federalists would set the stage for the policies of the new government.
Recommended Readings
James Madison to Edmund Randolph, November 2, 1788.
James Madison to Thomas Mann Randolph, January 13, 1789.
Mr. Thompson is a Republican political consultant.
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