The claim that John Hanson was the true first President of the United States surfaces regularly across social media and internet trivia forums. According to this narrative, George Washington was actually the eighth president, and a forgotten Maryland merchant named Hanson held the office nearly a decade earlier. While Hanson did serve as the presiding officer of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation, calling him the commander-in-chief or chief executive in the modern sense misrepresents early American constitutional history.
Unpacking this historical misconception requires examining what the Articles of Confederation actually established, what powers Hanson wielded, and how internet-era myths compounded the confusion.
The Articles of Confederation vs. The Constitution
To understand why some people argue that John Hanson came first, you have to look at the governing document that preceded the U.S. Constitution. Adopted in 1781, the Articles of Confederation created a loose alliance of sovereign states rather than a strong centralized federal government.
Under this system, the national government consisted of a single-house legislature known as the Confederation Congress. There was no independent executive branch, no judiciary, and no single leader with veto power or command over a national executive apparatus. The presiding officer of this Congress held a title officially rendered as "President of the United States in Congress Assembled".
John Hanson was elected to this presiding role on November 5, 1781. Because his formal title included the phrase "President of the United States," modern trivia enthusiasts leap to the conclusion that he held the exact same office later occupied by George Washington.
What Did John Hanson Actually Do in Office?
Hanson served a one-year term starting in late 1781. Contrary to viral internet posts claiming he single-handedly ran the country or governed like a modern president, his duties were largely administrative and ceremonial.
- He presided over congressional debates and maintained order.
- He signed official government documents, committee reports, and diplomatic correspondence.
- He received foreign ministers and ambassadors on behalf of the Congress.
- He issued official proclamations, such as national Thanksgiving decrees.
He did not possess executive veto power, he could not issue executive orders, and he did not direct a cabinet of department heads. The Congress as a collective body made decisions, and even then, individual states retained ultimate authority over taxation and enforcement.
Furthermore, Hanson was not the absolute first man to hold the presiding office of the Continental Congress. Men like Samuel Huntington and Thomas McKean held the position before him. Hanson was simply the first to serve a full one-year term under the newly ratified Articles of Confederation.
How the Internet Amplified the Myth
The modern legend of John Hanson didn't just grow out of a misread historical document; it snowballed through decades of exaggerated internet folklore and specific internet-era hoaxes.
In the late 20th century, various fringe historical essays attempted to rebrand the Articles of Confederation as "Constitution I," arguing that every leader under it deserved retrofitted presidential numbering. From there, the claims grew wilder. Some online spaces began circulating an entirely fabricated narrative that John Hanson was the first Black president of the United States.
This specific variant relied on a conflation with a 19th-century Liberian senator named John Hanson and a misidentified figure in the background of John Trumbull's famous painting depicted on the back of the two-dollar bill. Genealogists and historians, including researchers at Mount Vernon, thoroughly debunked these claims, noting that the 18th-century Maryland merchant was white and had no relation to the mid-19th-century Liberian politician.
Why George Washington Remains the First President
Historians separate John Hanson's role from George Washington's because the structural nature of the American government fundamentally changed in 1789.
The U.S. Constitution, ratified to replace the failing Articles of Confederation, created an entirely new branch of government: the executive branch. Article II of the Constitution established a single executive officer with independent powers, military command authority, and the ability to sign or veto legislation passed by Congress.
When George Washington took the oath of office on April 30, 1789, he became the first chief executive under this new constitutional framework. Conflating Hanson's congressional moderating role with Washington's executive presidency ignores the profound legal transformation of the American founding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was John Hanson ever considered the legal equivalent of George Washington?
No. While some 20th-century promotional pamphlets and local historical campaigns tried to elevate Hanson's status, mainstream historians and constitutional scholars recognize that his role bore no executive powers comparable to those granted under the 1787 Constitution.
Did John Hanson run against George Washington for president?
No. Washington did not run against Hanson, nor was Washington even eligible under the rules of the Confederation Congress, which required presiding officers to be active sitting delegates from a state delegation.
What was the primary weakness of Hanson's presidency?
The office suffered from structural impotence. The Articles of Confederation denied the central government the power to levy taxes or regulate commerce, meaning Hanson presided over a government that constantly struggled to pay soldiers or fund basic state operations.
Are there any memorials to John Hanson today?
Yes. Because he was a prominent Maryland politician who signed the Articles of Confederation and contributed to the Revolutionary War effort locally, his memory is preserved in historical markers and public spaces around Frederick, Maryland.
