How was John Adams elected Vice-President?

Answer 1

John Adams was elected Vice-President as a result of the first US Presidential election on January 7, 1789. The decision was made by the electoral college, which represented only ten of the original thirteen states (North Carolina and Rhode Island had not yet ratified the Constitution; the New York legislature couldn't agree who to appoint as electors), then the vote was certified by the US House of Representatives. George Washington received the most electoral votes, 69, and was named President. John Adams received the second most votes, 34, and was named Vice-President.

Under normal circumstances, Presidential Elections are held in years evenly divisible by four (1796...2012, etc.); however, the new government didn't become operational until 1789, the year after the required number of states ratified the US Constitution. Subsequent elections were held according to pattern explained above.

Washington and Adams were reelected to their respective offices in 1792.

Answer 2

John Adams was elected Vice-President as a result of the first US Presidential election on January 7, 1789. The decision was made by the electoral college, which represented only ten of the original thirteen states (North Carolina and Rhode Island had not yet ratified the Constitution; the New York legislature couldn't agree who to appoint as electors), then the vote was certified by the US House of Representatives. George Washington received the most electoral votes, 69, and was named President. John Adams received the second most votes, 34, and was named Vice-President.

The Twelfth Amendment, ratified in 1804, changed the process so that Presidential and Vice-Presidential votes were cast separately after the 1800 Presidential election resulted in a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr that the US House of Representatives had difficulty breaking.