Unfortunately, the school systems have mislead us all, including our children. The position of presidency existed long before George Washington took office. There were a total of 15 presidents that served our country and all left their mark behind, only to fall to the backdrop due to information that was neglected when writing the history books.
These presidents served under different conditions, but all the same, they made their mark on history. In truth, when given history, there are three different classifications of presidents. There are the presidents of congress, the presidents of the United States Under the Articles of Confederation, and the Presidents of the United States under the Constitution. The Presidents of the United States Under the Constitution, are what we currently consider the presidents of the United States.
Presidents of Congress
There were seven total presidents who served as the President of Congress. These men really did not have special powers. This position was created at the first convening of the American Colonial Congress on September 5, 1774. This was a temporary position in which the person that held the positions only served for one year per term. The person that held this position was more of a tie breaker, and a leader for congress than they were for the colonies.
This fact leads most people to ask the question, were they really a president? Yes in fact they were. Each one served as a leader, they just served as a leader under a different governmental system. Just because the terms that the country is ran under changed, does not mean that they are any less important than other presidents. They still each made their political mark on the way the government is handled.
The Seven Presidents of Congress
Peyton Randolph served from September 5, 1774 to October 22, 1774
Henry Middleton served from October 22, 1774 to October 26, 1774
Peyton Randolph served from May 20, 1775 to May 24, 1775 John Hancock served from May 25, 1775 to October 29, 1777
Henry Laurens served from November 1, 1777 to December 9, 1778
John Jay served from December 10, 1778 to September 28, 1779
Samuel Huntington served from September 28, 1779 to March 1, 1781
On March 1, 1781 the tile officially changed to serving as President of the United States Under the Articles of Confederaton. Samuel Huntington remained in office until July 9, 1781.
10 Terms served by Presidents of the United States Under the Articles of Confederation
After the Articles of Confederation were signed by the second continental congress, the presidency position changed. The position became more of a ruler over congress. The people were still afraid of a strong centralized government because of their experience with Great Britain. Small states were afraid of under representation and large states were afraid of over taxation to support the government. This allowed for a strong state power, and a weak centralized power.
The men that served as Presidents of the United States in Congress Assembled
Samuel Huntington ( September 28, 1779 – July 9, 1781 )
Thomas McKean ( July 10, 1781 – November 4, 1781 )
John Hanson ( November 5, 1781 – November 3, 1782 )
Elias Boudinot ( November 4, 1782 – November 3, 1783 )
Thomas Mifflin ( November 4, 1783 – November 29, 1784 )
Richard Henry Lee ( November 30, 1784 – November 22, 1785 )
John Hancock ( November 23, 1785 – June 5, 1786 – 2nd Term )
Nathaniel Gorham ( June 6, 1786 – February 1, 1787 )
Arthur St. Clair ( February 2, 1787 – January 21, 1788 )
Cyrus Griffin ( January 22, 1788 – April 30, 1789 )
Why Historians Do Consider George Washington the First President
Historians consider George Washington the first president of the United States due to the fact that he was the first president as we know them. The office of executor of state was not created until right before George Washington took office. So in technicality George Washington served as the first to hold the executive office of president. Not the first to serve as a president.
