1. President of U.S.A.

Any one would name George Washington as the first president of USA. But John Hanson from Maryland became the first president of U.S.A in 1781. After him seven others held this high position before Washington was elected and took office in 1789.

The office of the president of U.S.A, as it is known today, was not created till 1789. But the office of the ‘President of the United States in Congress Assembled’ had existed since 1781. There was growing discontent about the British rule over the 13 colonies. The colonies established The Continental Congress in 1774, with a delegate from each colony.

Continental Congress waged a war against Britain under the leadership of George Washington. The congress created a Federal Constitution. The articles of this confederation were the law from 1781 to 1789, until they were superseded by the new Constitution.

Hanson’s role was to preside over the Congress. He lacked the executive powers–which was later invested on George Washington–and could not enforce the measures of the Congress in the individual states. Often the states just ignored these measures.

By 1786 the weaknesses of the Federal Constitution were identified. In 1789 a new Constitution established a more effective and a more powerful central government.

For eight long years, the Continental Congress had ruled the newly formed United States. John Hanson, though largely forgotten now, had the honor of being its first president.

Visalakshi Ramani