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  1. #1
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    Default a history lesson....sort of.....

    I NEVER really thought about this. When I went to High School, I knew about the constitution and that George Washington was our first president.... but I never gave it a thought about who ran the show BEFORE George Washington.
    Interesting article below. Enjoy.


    Who was the first President of the US?

    I suspect George Washington was your first guess. After all, who else comes to mind? But think back to your history books - The United States Declared its independence in 1776, yet George Washington did not take Office until April 30, 1789.

    So who was running the country during these initial years of our young country? It was the first eight U. S. Presidents. In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. I can hear you now - John who? John Hanson, was the first President of the United States.

    John Hanson, first President of the United States. Check Google for more detailed information. There was also a U.S. stamp made in his honor.

    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.

    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. Seven other presidents were elected after him:

    1. John Hanson

    2. Elias Boudinot (1782-83),

    3. Thomas Mifflin (1783-84),

    4. Richard Henry Lee (1784-85),

    5. John Hancock (1785-86),

    6. Nathan Gorman (1786-87),

    7. Arthur St. Clair (1787-88), and

    8. Cyrus Griffin (1788-89),

    ...all prior to George Washington taking office.

    So what happened? Why don't we hear about the first eight presidents?

    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 definitely was 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 eight Presidents have been forgotten in history.

    YOU HAVE TO BE A LOVER OF HISTORY TO APPRECIATE THIS!!

    There you are - another lesson in U.S. History, and you may have learned something new today.


    *********
    Our 4th Of July (a replay of last year)
    Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

    Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.
    Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
    Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.
    Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.
    They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

    What kind of men were they?

    Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.
    Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well-educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.
    Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
    Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.
    Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
    At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

    Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
    John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

    So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.
    Remember: freedom is never free! We thank these early patriots, as well as those patriots now fighting to KEEP our freedom!

  2. #2
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    Default

    Great Post Cav!
    Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading.
    Author unkown.

  3. Default

    Geez that is interesting. Thanks.

  4. #4

    Default

    Those were all President of the Congress. An appointed figurehead. Somebody had to chair the meetings. George Washington was the first to hold the title with any authority, or hold the Office for that matter. None of the others were close to being POTUS under any means by any title. Just the guy who had to break up fights and maintain order while Congress was in session. Only the use of the word president makes any connection.

    I was aware of the "First President" controversy quite a while ago. More recently it's been covered on one of those cable shows that digs up these kinds of things. Thinking it might have been 'Forbidden History' or 'Forgotten History'.....something on that order.

    Cool to talk about though. Just like that bit about the signers of the Declaration. I can't remember the names but I enjoy reading about them every so often.
    Last edited by JB White; 07-09-2017 at 02:40.
    2016 Chicago Cubs. MLB Champions!


    **Never quite as old as the other old farts**

  5. #5
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    Default

    Never knew this, thank you.
    To Error Is Human To Forgive Is Not SAC Policy

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by JB White View Post
    Those were all President of the Congress. An appointed figurehead. Somebody had to chair the meetings. George Washington was the first to hold the title with any authority, or hold the Office for that matter. None of the others were close to being POTUS under any means by any title. Just the guy who had to break up fights and maintain order while Congress was in session. Only the use of the word president makes any connection.

    I was aware of the "First President" controversy quite a while ago. More recently it's been covered on one of those cable shows that digs up these kinds of things. Thinking it might have been 'Forbidden History' or 'Forgotten History'.....something on that order.

    Cool to talk about though. Just like that bit about the signers of the Declaration. I can't remember the names but I enjoy reading about them every so often.
    Exactly, JB. The office of The President of The United States did not exist until the Constitution was ratified. The previous presidents were essentially the chairman of congress.
    I dream of a better world. One where chickens may cross the road without their motives being questioned.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by TomSudz View Post
    Exactly, JB. The office of The President of The United States did not exist until the Constitution was ratified. The previous presidents were essentially the chairman of congress.
    They were called "President" and President they were.

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