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John Hanson was the third President of Congress under the Articles of Confederation, but the first one to complete a full 1-year term. The Articles had no executive branch nor a judicial system. He was of English/Swedish heritage. He was not black. His grandfather came to the colonies as an indentured servant, not as a slave.

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Q: A Black Man John Hanson was the first President of the United States in 1781 why is he not mentioned as the first president of the USA?
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If john hanson was the real first president of the US why does George Washington get credit for being first when he wasn't?

George Washington was the first president of the United States. John Hanson was president of the Continental Congress which has little power and was nothing like the United States government. Furthermore, Hanson's position was mostly to chair the meetings of the convention- he was not at all like the US president. George Washington was the first "real" president.


What was john hanson title?

President John Hanson. Full title - President John Hanson in Congress Assembled of the United States of America. Although different titles were considered under both constitutions of the United States, the Executive Office of the President was not created until 1939. As the title changes, the position as President remains the Head of State and Head of Government of the United States of America in the Office of the President as it is spelled out in both constitutions. In the original constitution that patriots died for - Article IX gives the term of the Office of the President.


Was John Hansen the first president of the US African decent?

No.John Hanson was the first "President of the United States in Congress Assembled" under the Articles of Confederation. This means that he presided over the Continental Congress. Therefore his duties were most similar to those of the modern Speaker of the House of Representatives or the Vice President of the United States in his capacity as President of the US Senate. The President of the United States in Congress Assembled was never intended to be the "chief executive" of the country or "commander-in-chief" of the US military.John Hanson was a white man from Maryland. The rumor that he was black is false. Frequently a photograph (daguerrotype) of a black man, John Hanson Moor, is presented as evidence that John Hanson was black. In truth, there was no photography of any kind during John Hanson's lifetime. John Hanson Moor was a Liberian senator, unrelated to John Hanson.


Was john hanson black or white?

John Hanson was not black but he did serve as the president of the first Continental Congress and so is sometimes referred to as the first president. (There was a black John Hanson who was a prominent Senator in Liberia. People get the two confused from time to time. ) The American John Hanson served as President (1781-1782) under the Articles of Confederation. Hanson's position as president was not at all like the position of President under the United States Constitution. His main job was to chair meetings of the convention and serve as a sort of corresponding secretary for the Congress when it was not in session. Therefore, even though Hanson was in some sense the first president he get only a minor mention in the history books. He was honored by the US Postal Service with a postal card in 1972 and a commemorative stamp in 1981.


Was john hanson president?

John Hanson (14 April [O.S. 3 April] 1715 - November 22, 1783) was a delegate to the United States in Congress Assembled from Maryland. Because he was the first President of Congressfrom Maryland to serve under a fully ratified Articles of Confederation (Maryland did not complete the process and sign until March 1, 1781), John Hanson has been called the First President of the United States in Congress Assembled.yes, John hanson was the very first president of the United States. While George Washington was at war, John hanson came and took over for him.A few problems with the above (ignoring the totally wrong bit about him taking over for Washington).1. The President of the Continental Congress (or President of Congress) was a totally different position than President of the United States. President of Congress was a ceremonial position, and held almost no power. It was simply the man chosen by the delegates to preside over the Continental Congress; he ensured that the delegates adhered to the agendas and rules of debate. It bore absolutely no resemblance to the position of President of the United States other than that it had a very similar name.2. John Hanson was not even the first President of Congress. There were MANY such Presidents before him. The first was actually Peyton Randolph, who was elected President of Congress in 1774- before the Revolutionary War even began! John Hancock was President of Congress the longest, for almost 2.5 years, and was in that position when the Declaration of Independence was signed in July 1776- this is probably the real reason why his name is signed much larger than everyone else (not the story invented later about making it big enough that the King wouldn't need his glasses).3. John Hanson was not even the first President of Congress after the Articles of Confederation were ratified! Samuel Huntington was the President of Congress when the Articles were ratified, and he stayed in the position for a few more months until he resigned due to illness. His successor refused to take the position, and Thomas McKean wound up being the next President of Congress (Hanson was McKean's successor).4. Nor was John Hanson the first President of Congress when the war ended! Thomas McKean was President when Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown in 1781; the war technically continued, however, until 1783. Elias Boudinot was President when the Treaty of Paris was ratified in September 1783, officially ending the war and establishing the United States as an independent nation.5. John Hanson was simply the first President of Congress who operated strictly under the rules set down in the Articles of Confederation. He otherwise has no claim to the title of "first President of the US". The Articles set guidelines for how to choose a President of Congress and how long his term lasted, but otherwise made no changes to the position; it was still a largely powerless and ceremonial position.6. George Washington was the first President of the United States. He took office in March 1789, after the Constitution was ratified. Congress was significantly changed by the Constitution; it became a bicameral legislature- a legislature that has two houses, each headed by their own officers (the Speaker of the House, and the Senate Majority Leader). The last President of Congress resigned in November 1788 and was not replaced.It is important to remember that the position of President of Congress is totally unrelated to the position of President of the United States. As stated above, the President of Congress had no real power. The President of the United States, on the other hand, is the Head of State (ie- the person who is considered to represent the entire country when dealing with other countries), as well as the person who wields supreme executive power in the United States government.

Related questions

Who was the first president from the US?

John Hanson was the first president from the united states


When was John Hansen the President?

John Hanson was president of the Continental Congress from November 5, 1781 to November 4, 1782. The office was very different from the office of president of the United States. Hanson was never president of the United States.


If john hanson was the real first president of the US why does George Washington get credit for being first when he wasn't?

George Washington was the first president of the United States. John Hanson was president of the Continental Congress which has little power and was nothing like the United States government. Furthermore, Hanson's position was mostly to chair the meetings of the convention- he was not at all like the US president. George Washington was the first "real" president.


What was john hanson title?

President John Hanson. Full title - President John Hanson in Congress Assembled of the United States of America. Although different titles were considered under both constitutions of the United States, the Executive Office of the President was not created until 1939. As the title changes, the position as President remains the Head of State and Head of Government of the United States of America in the Office of the President as it is spelled out in both constitutions. In the original constitution that patriots died for - Article IX gives the term of the Office of the President.


What color was John Hanson first president of the united states?

Hanson was a white Caucasian of English descent, if that is what you want to know.


Who was John Hanson?

President John Hanson was the Nations first President under the original United States Constitution that patriots fought and died for - the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union.The term "President of the United States in Congress Assembled" under the nations first government is used today when the President of the United States of America is present with a full Congress. President Hanson never presided over the Continental Congress I or II - he presided as the Nations first President of the United States of America after the Continental Congress was dissolved on March 1, 1781. His duties as President were independent of the Congress as the Office of the President was created and spelled out in the Articles. The Office of the President of the United States never intended to be the "Executive Office of the President" that was created in 1939 or "commander-in-chief" of the US military, but these additions were added later in the second adopted constitution and after Washington was President with the EXOP in 1939. John Hanson was truly our Nation's first President of the United States of America.


Who was the first president of the first American government?

George Washington was the first President under the United States Constitution. Before that, John Hanson was the first President under the Articles of Confederation.


Was John Hansen the first president of the US African decent?

No.John Hanson was the first "President of the United States in Congress Assembled" under the Articles of Confederation. This means that he presided over the Continental Congress. Therefore his duties were most similar to those of the modern Speaker of the House of Representatives or the Vice President of the United States in his capacity as President of the US Senate. The President of the United States in Congress Assembled was never intended to be the "chief executive" of the country or "commander-in-chief" of the US military.John Hanson was a white man from Maryland. The rumor that he was black is false. Frequently a photograph (daguerrotype) of a black man, John Hanson Moor, is presented as evidence that John Hanson was black. In truth, there was no photography of any kind during John Hanson's lifetime. John Hanson Moor was a Liberian senator, unrelated to John Hanson.


What office mentioned in the constitution must a person be a natural born citizen?

President of the United States


Was john hanson black or white?

John Hanson was not black but he did serve as the president of the first Continental Congress and so is sometimes referred to as the first president. (There was a black John Hanson who was a prominent Senator in Liberia. People get the two confused from time to time. ) The American John Hanson served as President (1781-1782) under the Articles of Confederation. Hanson's position as president was not at all like the position of President under the United States Constitution. His main job was to chair meetings of the convention and serve as a sort of corresponding secretary for the Congress when it was not in session. Therefore, even though Hanson was in some sense the first president he get only a minor mention in the history books. He was honored by the US Postal Service with a postal card in 1972 and a commemorative stamp in 1981.


Who was the first president of the of United states?

General George Washington (1732-1799) was the first President of the United States of America under the US Constitution. He was elected in 1787 and again in 1792 and served as President from April 30,1789 until March 4, 1797.The Hanson argument--Sometimes, John Hanson is referred to as the first US president due to his ancestors' success of convincing the Maryland Legislature that he was the first President to serve under the Articles of Confederation--- but that is NOT the same as the elected President of the US. The Hanson Family's lobbying effort was so complete that in 1903 Maryland included his statue, as one of two, allocated for each state in the US Capitol's Statuary Hall. Although Hanson served as President of the United States Congress Assembled, under the Articles of Confederation, , this was very different from that of a modern-day U.S. Presidency. Moreover, Hanson was actually the third President of the United States in Congress Assembled. The Articles of Confederation Presidency lineage as follows:Samuel Huntington was the first President of the United States in Congress Assembled. This was under the Articles of Confederation, March 1, 1781 to July 6, 1781.Thomas McKean was the second President of the United States in Congress Assembled elected on July 10th, 1781 and served until November 4th, 1781.John Hanson was the third President of the United States in Congress Assembled. He was elected by the United States in Congress Assembled Delegates on November 5, 1781 to November 4, 1782. He was the first President to serve a full one year term under the Articles of Confederation.The position of President of the United States Congress Assembled would be more closely analogous to the Prime Minister of a country with a parliament or the current position of Speaker of the House in the USA .


Which of Thomas Jefferson's accomplishments is not mentioned on his tombstone?

the accomplishment that he was the third president