Where there any presidents before George Washington?

Question

Lets be real here, when i say 'president' lets not get into so much of the title but more of the power. POWER meaning the rule of the United States, the same power a president would have today bask then.

I was recently reading "The Forgotten Presidents" on Free Republic on the internet and thought about the subject. It's caught my attention that some people believe that their where more presidents and some do not. Now, I want the facts. They two things that would help me would be a well worded response and possibly a list of some of the "The Forgotten Presidents" .

I'm not good with politics, so any misleading information would be very unwelcome. Also ask be for a further explanation of my question, especially because I am a little abstract with my words.

Hrm. I don't want any of that 'Do your homework' talk again. Honestly, i just got 10 e-mails from people telling to do so. Im not doing homework, just curiosity getting a hold of me.

Anyway, try not to get so much into the entire English thing again. It really brings up bad memories.

Answer 1

There were 8 Presidents of the Confederation however we were not a country then just a group of independent states. Your question asks "rule of the United States" as there was no United States before we gained our freedom from England then the answer to that is no, Geroge Washington was the first President of the United States.

Answer 2

The country the United States of America didn't exist until the Constitution was ratified.

So, by definition, no.

If you've been reading on the subject, and there are people claiming yes, then why are you asking us?

Were there no references given where you were reading this? There should have been.

Or you could do searches on the various people quoted, and see if they have on-line writings that would explain things.

Washington didn't have the same power as presidents do today. The Constitution was intended to make all three branches equal, to prevent too much power from being in the hands of ONE person.

But much has happened since then go concentrate power in the presidency.

Unfortunately.

Answer 3

George Washington was the first president to act under the Constitution. However, America tried out a government prior to this called the Articles of Confederation, which sucked. So we ditched it and drew up the Constitution. But under that first government, there were about 16 presidents, which I believe the person before me listed.

Answer 4

"President's of the Continental Congress"

Peyton Randolph Henry Middleton Peyton Randolph John Hancock Henry Laurens John Jay
Samuel Huntington Thomas McKean John Hanson Elias Boudinot Thomas Mifflin Richard Henry Lee
John Hancock Nathaniel Gorham Arthur St. Clair Cyrus Griffin

Answer 5

No. There were no presidents in charge of the US until Washington was elected. The people they were talking about were called governors. They weren't presidents and if they were given the title of president by someone, then tell them that it is false.

Answer 6

George Washington was our very first President, dear. Before that, the colonies were ruled by King George III and each colony had a governor.

Answer 7

Um.. I'm racking my brain right now.. what where they called.. the Articles of Confederation? Was that the name of our first "Constitution" based Government? If so whoever was in charge during that time might fit what you are looking for... but I'm too lazy to go look up all the information.

Answer 8

Oh my god..like...there was King George...since America was part of England before 1776.

Answer 9

George Washington was the first US President, so there couldn't have been one before him.

Answer 10

He was the first one and nobody was before him because there was know country before that. Peace