Was John Hanson the first president?

Question

I heard that actually Washington was not the first President. It was a guy named Hanson, Is this true?

Answer 1

As the first President, Hanson had quite the shoes to fill. No one had ever been President and the role was poorly defined. His actions in office would set precedent for all future Presidents. He took office just as the Revolutionary War ended. Almost immediately, the troops demanded to be paid. As would be expected after any long war, there were no funds to meet the salaries. As a result, the soldiers threatened to overthrow the new government and put Washington on the throne as a monarch. All the members of Congress ran for their lives, leaving Hanson running the government. He somehow managed to calm the troops and hold the country together. If he had failed, the government would have fallen almost immediately and everyone would have been bowing to King Washington.

Hanson, as President, ordered all foreign troops off American soil, as well as the removal of all foreign flags. This was quite a feat, considering the fact that so many European countries had a stake in the United States since the days following Columbus. Hanson established the Great Seal of the United States, which all Presidents have since been required to use on all official documents. President Hanson also established the first Treasury Department, the first Secretary of War, and the first Foreign Affairs Department. Lastly, he declared that the fourth Thursday of every November was to be Thanksgiving Day, which is still true today.

The Articles of Confederation only allowed a President to serve a one-year term during any three-year period, so Hanson actually accomplished quite a bit in such little time. He served in that office from November 5, 1781 until November 3, 1782. He was the first President to serve a full term after the full ratification of the Articles of Confederation – and like so many of the Southern and New England Founders, he was strongly opposed to the Constitution when it was first discussed. He remained a confirmed anti-federalist until his untimely death.

Six other presidents were elected after him - Elias Boudinot (1783), Thomas Mifflin (1784), Richard Henry Lee (1785), Nathan Gorman (1786), Arthur St. Clair (1787), and Cyrus Griffin (1788) - all prior to Washington taking office. Why don't we ever hear about the first seven Presidents of the United States? It's quite simple - The Articles of Confederation didn't work well. The individual states had too much power and nothing could be agreed upon. A new doctrine needed to be written - something we know as the Constitution.

George Washington was definitely not the first President of the United States. He was the first President of the United States under the Constitution we follow today. And the first seven Presidents are forgotten in history.  

So,  basically, the answer is YES.....and basically it is no... but if this is for a school project,  you better put in this explanation if you say YES...

Answer 2

Yes, it is true. Washington was the first president elected by the populace. Hanson was the first elected from amongst the members of the Continental Congress. In the period between the beginning of the Revolution in 1776 and the ratification of the Constitution in 1789, the Continental Congress was the sole authority in cumulative acts between the states (what we consider federalism). Hanson was the first person they elected to rule until a Constitution could put some kind of chief executive in place. Six others followed him before the free elections that put Washington in office.

Answer 3

not sure.I just cheked wikipedia and it said "John Hanson has been called the First President of the United States in Congress Assembled"

hope this helps

Answer 4

hrmmmm i heard my history teacher say that there were really seven presidents before George Washington. Those presidents were before the birth of the constitution so therefore they are not as popular as the presidents we know that lead under the constitution.  

Answer 5

Hanson was President of the Continental Congress, under the Articles of Confederation, before the United States had a constitution.  He was like a Prime Minister.  George Washington was the first President of the United States under the Constitution.  Hanson was not part black either.  His grandfather was an indentured servant who worked his way out of debt and bought his own farm.  Hanson's grandfather was not part of chattel slavery.

Answer 6

yup yup yup yup i'm doing a homework sheet on it right now

for xrta credit

Answer 7

No, George Washington was the first president of The United States.  

Answer 8

some people say so, see the source.

Six other presidents were elected after him - Elias Boudinot (1783), Thomas Mifflin (1784), Richard Henry Lee (1785), Nathan Gorman (1786), Arthur St. Clair (1787), and Cyrus Griffin (1788) - all prior to Washington taking office. Why don't we ever hear about the first seven Presidents of the United States? It's quite simple - The Articles of Confederation didn't work well. The individual states had too much power and nothing could be agreed upon. A new doctrine needed to be written - something we know as the Constitution.

George Washington was definitely not the first President of the United States. He was the first President of the United States under the Constitution we follow today. And the first seven Presidents are forgotten in history.