Eight 'Presidents' Led U.S. Before Washington, Forgotten History Reveals

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Before George Washington became the first president under the U.S. Constitution in 1789, eight other leaders served as "presidents of the United States in Congress Assembled" under the country's first governing document, the Articles of Confederation. These forgotten figures, including John Hanson, Elias Boudinot and Thomas Mifflin, played key roles in chartering the nation's first central bank and developing diplomatic relationships, though they had limited power compared to the presidency established by the Constitution.

Why it matters

This forgotten history challenges the common perception of Washington as the nation's first president and sheds light on the transition from the weak central government under the Articles of Confederation to the stronger federal system established by the Constitution. It highlights how the founders adapted the system of government to meet the country's evolving needs.

The details

The Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, established a Confederation Congress as the central governing body, with no executive or judicial branches. The "presidents of the United States in Congress Assembled" were elected annually by the Confederation Congress, serving one-year terms. John Hanson, the first to hold the position, helped charter the Bank of North America and proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving holiday, though he and his successors had limited power compared to the presidency created by the Constitution.

• The Articles of Confederation were ratified in 1781.
• John Hanson served as the first "president of the United States in Congress Assembled" from 1781-1782.
• George Washington was unanimously chosen as the first president under the U.S. Constitution in 1789.

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