No doubt the founders could not conceive of a Donald Trump leading the nation. However, they didn't have to worry about that because the people had little voice in choosing a president.Yes, and the right to vote was given only to men who own property. I imagine the founders felt that as a male group, property owners would police themselves as you say with the tool of impeachment if something as corrupt and authoritarian as ‘the donald’ were to become president and remain president outside the constitutional process. How could they see the Trumpism crisis ignited by a predudent who would be not as a wise educated man of wealth and property, and loyal to the nation , but as a fearmongering, divisive and uninhibited leader of a culture war against the popular gains of sexual, religious and racial rights nation that we have become.
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Looking back at how elections were held in the early years of the republic is really shocking. The typically polling place was a large tavern or home of a wealthy farmer, or possibly a candidate. The atmosphere was often more like a big party with plenty of free liquor and food being served. Election day was a day of celebration and partying. Men would travel from near and far to participate in a voice vote affirming candidates for town and city governments, legislatures and governors, and their representative in the US House but not the president. When voting was held early in the day, voters would often go to another precinct to cast another vote and take advantage of free food and drink served.
Qualifications varied by state but in general any white male over 25 who owned property and was a resident of the county or the state (laws vary on this point) was qualified. Since voter registration did not exist, rarely was anyone challenged. If you were admitted by the offical in charge of the polling place, you got to vote.
In early days of the republic, the presidential election was a meeting of the electoral college in each state to determine how the state would vote for president. In most states the electors were chosen by the legislature and people had little to no voice in who became president. Slowly each state gave the people a chance to vote for electors. By 1864, all states chose electors based on popular vote. Electors were originally all free electors, who were free to choose whoever they wanted for president. Later the idea of pledged electors became common and states started passing legislation requiring electors to be pledge to a candidate.
If you are getting the idea that most of the founders really hated the idea of giving people much control of who governors them, you're right. The people had little or no voice in electing presidents and senators, but only House members. However as the country grew so did the demand for a more democratic republic. Today, the people chose who will represent them in the House, Senate, and Presidency, an idea that would be abhorrent to the founders.
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