who is the 1st president of US?

Answer 1

To all the John Hanson posts...

Hanson was, in fact, the first president under the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union. But, the Confederation basically collapsed, and was replaced by our Democratic Republic. Since it is the Constitution that is our framework for our current system, then it is correct to say that George Washington was the first.

Technically, as a country, we have had 2 systems of government and the two bodies were very different.

Answer 2

I'm going to throw a monkey-wrench into the works on this one.....

John Hanson

In 1775 he was elected to the Provincial Legislature of Maryland. Then in 1777, he became a member of Congress where he distinguished himself as a brilliant administrator. Thus, he was elected President in 1781. Was John Hanson the first President of the United States?

The new country was actually formed on March 1, 1781 with the adoption of The Articles of Confederation. This document was actually proposed on June 11, 1776, but not agreed upon by Congress until November 15, 1777. Maryland refused to sign this document until Virginia and New York ceded their western lands (Maryland was afraid that these states would gain too much power in the new government from such large amounts of land). Once the signing took place in 1781, a President was needed to run the country. John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which included George Washington). In fact, all the other potential candidates refused to run against him, as he was a major player in the Revolution and an extremely influential member of Congress.

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.



wow 7 years after the end of the war before our permanant government was put in place....I guess the libs would consider Amerca a failure!!

Answer 3

The first president was John Hanson, who was selected on November 5th. Hanson served a one-year term that ended on November 4, 1782. From 1782 until 1789, when George Washington took the oath of office, seven more presidents were chosen. And, therefore, George Washington was actually our ninth president.
These first eight presidents were among the best and the brightest of the early founders. The first, John Hanson, made the most of his twelve months in office. He established the Great Seal of the United States; created the first Treasury Department, Foreign Affairs Department and the Secretary of War. President Hanson removed all foreign troops and foreign flags from America and designated the fourth Thursday of every November a Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Answer 4

George Washington

Answer 5

George Washington; but I heard that John Hanson might the first President. I'm pretty sure it's not a legend and has evidence to support John Hanson, and lot's of people believe it is for real. However, that hasn't been confirmed so Mr. Washington is still the first President for now.

Answer 6

It was George Washington.

There is an urban legend that claims John Hanson was technically the first, but it's not true.

Answer 7

A guy named John Hanson! He was president under the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution, as it had not been written!

Answer 8

ummm...that would be George Washington
1 washington 2 adams 3 jefferson 4 madison 5 monroe...

Answer 9

As per our history books and clearly recorded its George Washington.

Answer 10

george washington