For Fear of an Elective King

For Fear of an Elective King explores the intense debate in early 1789 over the appropriate presidential title, a controversy that reflected broader questions about power, sovereignty, and national identity in the nascent United States. Kathleen Bartoloni-Tuazon examines how this dispute influenced the shaping of the American political community and the emerging presidential role. The eventual choice of the title "President" signified a commitment to humility and the importance of public recognition of leadership within a democratic framework.