Democracy in the Colonial Period and the Early Evolution of the U.S. Electoral College from the First Four Presidential Elections
Keywords:
U.S. Presidential elections, Democracy, Colonial period, Electoral College, FederalismAbstract
This article explores the complex historical development of democracy in the United States during its colonial period and the early evolution of the U.S. Electoral College as shaped through the nation's first four presidential elections. Beginning with the post-Revolutionary War period, the newly independent American colonies experienced significant political and economic challenges under the Articles of Confederation, leading to the drafting of the 1787 U.S. Constitution. The ensuing debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists over governance structures and power distribution culminated in a system featuring an executive president, a novel concept at the time. The first part highlights how early democratic principles were influenced by the colonists' perception on the mixed constitution, often rooted in ancient Greek and Roman, and the cautious adaptation of British models. The second part of this article also examines how the Electoral College, originally designed to unify states and prevent factionalism, faced practical challenges and obstacles. These difficulties ultimately led to the 12th Amendment in 1803, which aimed to reform the Electoral College to better align with the emergent two-party system and ensure a more effective representation of the majority under the federalism and federal structure.
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