1788 Chesapeake General Election

The 1788 Chesapeake general election was the first Parliamentary election in Chesapeake history. It was held on December 15, 1788. Under the Constitution of the Confederation of the United States, each Commonwealth would elect a leader to run the country and appoint Members of their respective Parliaments or Congress to represent them in the greater United States Congress. Disagreements between the smaller states of Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey and the bigger state of Pennsylvania over what Government to use lead to two elections to be held, electing two heads of state. The Prime Minister, elected in the general election, would appoint the Representatives to the United States Congress, as well as acting as acting like Chesapeake's Secretary of State, having control over intra and interstate conflicts. The election was the first election to have formed political parties in the Confederation's history. The Conservative Party were supporters of the political philosophies of New England Prime Minister John Adams, advocating for closer relations with Britain, high tariffs, and overall favoring the Merchants. In opposition to this were the Agrarians, favoring the farmers, closer relations with France, and lower tariffs. In between both of them was the National Party, which has no real political beliefs except putting the needs of the nation over the needs of the state, leading to flexible party positions.

With no party gaining a majority in Parliament, the election for Prime Minister was competitive. Thomas Mifflin, leader of the Nationals, endorsed James McHenry, leader of the Conservatives. Leading to his triumph over Agrarian leader Simon Snyder. James McHenry would serve as Prime Minister for two more terms before retiring from public life.