Why is George Washington called the First President ?

[ronki23]

I thought Peyton Randolph and John Hanson came before Washington?

 

[dianaiad]

He's the first president because he's the one put in office at the signing of the Constitution. Yes, the two you mentioned were 'presidents' before Washington, but the nation wasn't really organized permanently before then. It was a little, er....squishy and nobody really knew what they were doing. Not that they knew what they were doing AFTER the constitution was signed, but at least by then it looked good on paper, and everybody had some decent guidelines.

 

[Shad]

I thought Peyton Randolph and John Hanson came before Washington?

They were Presidents of the Continental Congress not the Federal government.

 

[dianaiad]

They were Presidents of the Continental Congress not the Federal government.

OK, go ahead and be succinct and accurate. See if I care. (sniff)

 

[Twilight Hue]

The more history that comes out, the more I realized how intellectually ripped off I was in social studies class.

 

[Milton Platt]

The more history that comes out, the more I realized how intellectually ripped off I was in social studies class.

Yeah, well, that whole cherry tree incident seemed suspect even then.

 

[Shad]

The more history that comes out, the more I realized how intellectually ripped off I was in social studies class.

A lot of public education is sanitized and created for the lowest common denominator, ie C students.

 

[dianaiad]

The more history that comes out, the more I realized how intellectually ripped off I was in social studies class.

We all were. Shoot, I remember being told in grade school that Custer was a hero.

 

[ronki23]

They were Presidents of the Continental Congress not the Federal government.

He's the first president because he's the one put in office at the signing of the Constitution. Yes, the two you mentioned were 'presidents' before Washington, but the nation wasn't really organized permanently before then. It was a little, er....squishy and nobody really knew what they were doing. Not that they knew what they were doing AFTER the constitution was signed, but at least by then it looked good on paper, and everybody had some decent guidelines.

What were the differences between Randolph and Hanson's roles?

 

[LuisDantas]

Apparently they were largely ceremonial, but it stands to reason that there must have been some change in those years.

There are well over a dozen people that had that role at one time or another, incidentally. Interesting thing to learn. Thanks!

President of the Continental Congress - Wikipedia

 

[Shad]

What were the differences between Randolph and Hanson's roles?

No. The role was one of mediator with no power nor even mandated service time. Hanson for example left to handle State (his state's) business without any issue from Congress.

 

[dianaiad]

What were the differences between Randolph and Hanson's roles?

Not a lot...neither man had a whole lot of power.