The year is 1776. The musket smoke has cleared, the white flag are waving, and the 13 Colonies stand victorious in their battle for independence from England. Ties to the oppressive and the tyrannical reign of King George III are severed and America now stands on the cusp of a brand new country and a brand new system of government - both of which are created by Americans, for Americans. Determined to create a political system that did not rely upon a corrupted monarch, America decided upon a presidency with one man in mind to rule the newly freed nation: George Washington. Sadly, unbeknownst to Americans everywhere, their unanimous support for their first and truest president would ultimately become the downfall of their idyllically pure and untouchable republic. Upon the eve of his final term, the looming and forever prominent shadow of Washington’s legacy would dwarf all other candidates for the position. The emergence of political parties thus becomes a necessity in campaigning after the presidency of Washington, most noticeably seen in the struggle between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson and Washington himself. When examining what went wrong over the course of political campaigning, one must look to where it first begins – where it is initially uncorrupt and right. After the American Constitution is ratified in 1788, the 13 Colonies search for a man that is both, “king and prime minister… a national figurehead and the people’s representative… to be elected by the people, but not ‘subservient’ to them” (Troy, 9-10). Having fought in the American War of Independence years before, General George Washington is a stellar example of “character [and] virtue” and his prim and proper reputation is exactly what America wants and needs in a president (10). Despite having no initial interest in running for presidency, Washington becomes the soul candidate for the elite (10). Washington, as it turns out, adheres firmly to the belief that a candidate should not be directly involved the in the actual process of campaigning, thus sets the template for how all other campaigns should be run (10). His standoffishness becomes his most formidable characteristic, exemplifying the republican ideal of a proper leader (10). In February of 1789, after the Electoral College unanimously elect Washington, it becomes merely a formality for Congress to count the ballots and declare what everyone already knows: George Washington is in and he will be the first President of the United States of America (10). As leader of the free world, Washington is everything the American people desire in a leader and, in the same breath, is the poster-child for classical republicanism (11). Tragically, the Colonies do not have the gift of hindsight and make a perilous mistake in electing Washington. Washington chooses to stay seen but not heard, strives to unify and build his nation with encouraging speeches, but inaction and appoints his cabinet members Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson to debate and discuss policies in his steed (11). Washington becomes victim to his own celebrity and becomes a figurehead for the presidency while Hamilton runs the show from behind the figurative curtain (11). As it pans out, Washington’s expectations and reputation precede even his own abilities and Americans soon become aware of the cracks and chinks in the armor of their great warrior-leader (11). By the time his second term is over, the illusion of Washington as the infallible president is tarnished (11). Now, with Washington, the most revered man in America, stepping down, he leaves behind an untouchable legacy and a slew of problems so vast that his predecessors will have problems corralling on their own (11). This leaves the doors wide open for political parties. America, while only a few years old, already seemed to be feeling the strains of a Post-Washington administration. Having so much invested in Washington, the American people are weary of another president, knowing whoever comes next will never be as grand, and the candidates begin their campaign already in poor standings (11). Seeing as how the act of campaigning is frown upon, as set by Washington, the question as to how the new candidates will make themselves as well known and publicly adored as Washington, becomes the toughest struggle their campaigns will endure (11). The people, for the most part, lay divided in their loyalty and fidelity for Washington and the new candidates, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, and schisms arise between the de facto republican elites and the Framers (12). Soon, a basic “first-party system” is created, tackling at odds issues, such as, “nation debt, manufacturing policy and French and British machinations” (12). Dubbed Federalists and Republicans, the candidates quickly align themselves to the following they hope will hold the majority (12). With the lines between republican and federalist finally drawn, Jefferson places himself with the Republicans and Adams, with the Federalists (12). The creation of the Federalist and Republicans, while still very undeveloped, becomes the template and pre-generator for modern political parties. The initial ideal to have one country ruled under one man for the masses is abolished (12). Now, Jefferson and Adams and their respective groups begin not a campaign for themselves, but a campaign against the other candidate with the soul purpose to sully their name (13). These individual smear campaigns have no shame, calling upon all mediums of information to assist in the slander (13). Jefferson is called “a monarchist, and egoist and… a rapist” and is described as “a mean spirited, low-lived fellow, the son of a half-breed Indian squaw” while Adams is labeled “an atheist, a swindler and a traitor” and accused of trying to “establish a dynastic succession with his sons” (13). With rumors and accusations lubricating their campaign trails, the American hope for another “virtuous leader” is dashed out, leaving then to face “corrupt politicians” (12). Seeing as how he was able to remain completely out of his own campaign, reaping only the benefits, it becomes obvious that the days of Washington are long gone (10). Now, Americans begin to associate more with a particular party belief than the individual backing the party (13). As Troy remarks, “voting was no longer a personal matter between a citizen and a man of character, but a party matter between groups of citizens and coalitions of politicians” (12). In trying to detach themselves from their campaigns like Washington had, Jefferson and Adams retreat to their personal farms and let the calamity sort itself out (14). The elections come and pass and now, with the dust settled, Adams and his Federalist party emerge victorious (14). As Troy states, “parties became institutionalized” and it the ‘Washington way’ of comporting oneself is swept under the rug, swallowed up by the intimidating presence of the political party (14). Even Jefferson himself takes notice of his rubber-stamp-esque position, remarking to Adams in his 1802 letter, “were we both to die today, tomorrow two other names would be put in the place of ours” (14). With Washington, a man for whom the presidency had all but been created for, the need for external backing was pointless. Washington, in essence, becomes the pillars for American government, laying the groundwork for a government system that will never be able to build itself sturdily around his impressive foundation. By simply being too perfect for the role, Washington unknowingly doomed America to live with sub par versions of his standards and ideals. As you can see, with Washington helming the United States, the puritan belief in a structured and wholesome republic was doomed to fail. Slander, backstabbing and smear campaigns ran rampant after Washington’s elusive reign, irrevocably altering the way modern political campaigns are run. No longer do people look for the morally upright, respectable intellectual, to which they elect to rule their government and country, but instead vote for the political party that seems less corrupt and self-serving. If only Washington had the ability to peer into the future, he would have realized his brilliant presidency would unknowingly pave the way for everything he abhorred.