Post by Grits on Mar 30, 2006 9:54:21 GMT -5
This is some researched info a friend of mine found...verrrry interesting!!!!!
A "Black" Man, A Moor, John Hanson Was the First President of the United States! 1781-1782 A.D.
George Washington was really the 8th President of the United States!
George Washington was not the first President of the United States. In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. Don't go checking the encyclopedia for this guy's name - he is one of those great men that are lost to history. If you're extremely lucky, you may actually find a brief mention of his name.
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 as the only guy left running the government. He somehow managed to calm the troops down 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. In fact, Hanson sent 800 pounds of sterling siliver by his brother Samuel Hanson to George Wasington to provide the troops with shoes.
Hanson, as President, ordered all foreign troops off American soil, as well as the removal of all foreign flags. This was quite the 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.
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.
So what happened?
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.
And that leads us to the end of our story.
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.
-------------------------------------------
John Hanson, First President
John Hanson, American Patriot and First President of the United States ...
Thus, he was elected President in 1781. Was John Hanson the first President of ...
www.marshallhall.org/hanson.html - 8k - Cached - Similar pages
John Hanson
John Hanson by: Stanley L. Klos 3rd President of the United States in Congress
Assembled November 5, 1781 to November 4, 1782 Painting: John Hanson by ...
www.johnhanson.net/ - 77k - Cached - Similar pages
Urban Legends Reference Pages: Business (First in Piece)
Was John Hanson the first president of the United States of America? ... in his
own time. and John Hanson couldn't possibly have been the "first president ...
www.snopes.com/history/american/hanson.htm - Similar pages
The First President of the United States, John Hanson, and more ...
Learn about John Hanson, the true first President of the United States. It's fact,
not fiction. Judge for yourself. Please enjoy the website. ...
www.oneandonlypresidentialmuseum.com/ - 9k - Cached - Similar pages
George Washington
In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. I can hear
you now - John who? John Hanson, the first President of the United States. ...
members.tripod.com/~earthdude1/ washington/washington.html - 10k - Cached - Similar pages
John Hanson
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, ...
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DG-1st President was Black
In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. Don't go
checking the encyclopedia for this guy's name - he is one of those great men ...
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Richard Gregory Global Watch,blacks news,information,african ...
This dark skinned man is John Hanson in his position as president of the ...
In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. ...
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First 1st US President John Hanson
About the first 1st united states president John Hanson, president during the
American Revolution under the Articles of Confederation before George ...
www.trivia-library.com/a/ first-1st-us-president-john-hanson.htm - 6k - Cached - Similar pages
Articles of Confederation
A rare biography of John Hanson entitled John Hanson: Our First President was
written in 1932 by Seymour Wemyss. The author stated that "on his (Hansonâs) ...
www.constitutionfacts.com/abody2.shtml - 8k - Cached - Similar pages
A "Black" Man, A Moor, John Hanson Was the First President of the United States! 1781-1782 A.D.
George Washington was really the 8th President of the United States!
George Washington was not the first President of the United States. In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. Don't go checking the encyclopedia for this guy's name - he is one of those great men that are lost to history. If you're extremely lucky, you may actually find a brief mention of his name.
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 as the only guy left running the government. He somehow managed to calm the troops down 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. In fact, Hanson sent 800 pounds of sterling siliver by his brother Samuel Hanson to George Wasington to provide the troops with shoes.
Hanson, as President, ordered all foreign troops off American soil, as well as the removal of all foreign flags. This was quite the 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.
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.
So what happened?
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.
And that leads us to the end of our story.
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.
-------------------------------------------
John Hanson, First President
John Hanson, American Patriot and First President of the United States ...
Thus, he was elected President in 1781. Was John Hanson the first President of ...
www.marshallhall.org/hanson.html - 8k - Cached - Similar pages
John Hanson
John Hanson by: Stanley L. Klos 3rd President of the United States in Congress
Assembled November 5, 1781 to November 4, 1782 Painting: John Hanson by ...
www.johnhanson.net/ - 77k - Cached - Similar pages
Urban Legends Reference Pages: Business (First in Piece)
Was John Hanson the first president of the United States of America? ... in his
own time. and John Hanson couldn't possibly have been the "first president ...
www.snopes.com/history/american/hanson.htm - Similar pages
The First President of the United States, John Hanson, and more ...
Learn about John Hanson, the true first President of the United States. It's fact,
not fiction. Judge for yourself. Please enjoy the website. ...
www.oneandonlypresidentialmuseum.com/ - 9k - Cached - Similar pages
George Washington
In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. I can hear
you now - John who? John Hanson, the first President of the United States. ...
members.tripod.com/~earthdude1/ washington/washington.html - 10k - Cached - Similar pages
John Hanson
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, ...
www.geocities.com/presfacts/8/hanson.html - 6k - Cached - Similar pages
DG-1st President was Black
In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. Don't go
checking the encyclopedia for this guy's name - he is one of those great men ...
www.dickgregory.com/dick/14_washington.html - 7k - Cached - Similar pages
Richard Gregory Global Watch,blacks news,information,african ...
This dark skinned man is John Hanson in his position as president of the ...
In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. ...
www.dickgregory.com/index_hanson.html - 42k - Cached - Similar pages
First 1st US President John Hanson
About the first 1st united states president John Hanson, president during the
American Revolution under the Articles of Confederation before George ...
www.trivia-library.com/a/ first-1st-us-president-john-hanson.htm - 6k - Cached - Similar pages
Articles of Confederation
A rare biography of John Hanson entitled John Hanson: Our First President was
written in 1932 by Seymour Wemyss. The author stated that "on his (Hansonâs) ...
www.constitutionfacts.com/abody2.shtml - 8k - Cached - Similar pages