Posted on 01/22/2007 2:38:46 PM PST by mcg2000
Let me start black history month a few weeks early. Barack Obama has plans of running for President of the United States, But will he be the first Black President or the 8th Black President? I know this posting will stir controversty but George Washington was not the first President of the U.S. Let's take a look at history.
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 Washington 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.
Well, I STILL think that the Eleventh, George Washington, was the best President of the United States of America.
While it is true that the office of the President of the United States took on a radically different meaning under the new Constitution in 1787, the Nation did de facto exist, as evidenced, for example, by Treaties which the United States, as a Sovereign nation, negotiated with other sovereign nations during the time period between 1776-1787.
Under the Articles of Confederation, even thought they were insufficient and eventually replaced, there was an office of President, and, if I'm not mistaken, it was actually John Hanson who developed the Seal of the President of the United States which is used to this day.
Wikipedia is written by normal people not necessary scholars or teachers. Either way Wikipedia has been wrong alot! Like now...
I am sorry Charles but he was not Sweden either. A lot of black history was changed and a lot of people got credit for stuff they did not do.
John was a black man who was Moorish. They have pic of him in the Moorish history books.
It just proved that blacks were here before the slaves were transported.
All we here about is the Spanish and the Indians.
He was unanimously decision made by all white congress...so he must not have been a slave
https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSeC5vkttuy5-e4_7trNEuUrRhh9ShcgySE_hWFiKCTgnHWM02e
REALLY! No he was not white - John Hancock was white John Hanson fist President was black!
I want to see a picture from 1783.
Cut and paste link below...
Also he is on the back of the two dollar bill.
I think you mean1873.
Didn’t that show up in the movie “True Romance”?
I’m sorry that you’re a deluded moron that doesn’t do any research but he was a Swedish man.
Blacks were also not aloud to hold public office at that time.
He also did not sign the Declaration of Independence so there’s no way he’s on the 2$ bill. Considering that the two dollar bill depicts Thomas Jefferson on the front and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on the back.
The man you see on the back is Thomas Mckean whom was a white lawyer.
This so called “Moorish history book” doesn’t exist. That photo you posted is of Liberian senator John Hanson whom was born in 1860. That would be 77 years after John Hanson’s death in 1783.
Photography didn’t even exist until 1839.
John Hanson myths debunked:
Anybody that still believes this ridiculous conspiracy that was invented by Dick Gregory is an idiot. Do your research before you post such a ridiculous comment.
You mean that ridiculous photo of a Liberian senator known as John Hanson? You fools still try to claim that’s the Swedish John Hanson from the 18th century?
John Hanson died in 1783. Photography did not exist until 1839. John Hanson also did not sign the Declaration of Independence so he’s not on the two dollar bill.
You revisionist crack me up.
John Hanson myths debunked:
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
