You probably learned it in first grade. It’s one of those "bedrock" facts of American history, right up there with the moon landing or the Boston Tea Party. If someone asks, was George Washington the first president of the United States, the answer seems like a no-brainer. Of course he was. His face is on the dollar bill, he led the Continental Army, and he’s the guy who literally defined what the job of "President" actually looks like.
But if you’ve ever spent time in a deep-dive history forum or talked to a particularly pedantic history professor, you might have heard a different name. John Hanson. Or maybe Peyton Randolph. Or maybe John Hancock.
There’s a whole group of people who will look you dead in the eye and tell you that George Washington was actually the 15th president. Or the 11th. It depends on how they’re counting. Honestly, it’s not just a conspiracy theory or a weird internet "gotcha." It’s a semantic argument based on how the United States existed before the Constitution was even written.
Let's get into the weeds of why this question is way more complicated than your elementary school textbook let on.
The Men Before Washington
Before the Constitution became the law of the land in 1789, the United States was governed by a document called the Articles of Confederation. Think of it like "America 1.0." It was a rough draft. It was also, frankly, a bit of a mess. Under this system, there was no "Executive Branch" in the way we think of it today. There was no White House, no Air Force One, and definitely no Commander-in-Chief with the power to veto laws.
However, there was a Congress. And that Congress needed someone to sit in the chair and keep things moving.
That person held the title of "President of the United States in Congress Assembled." Between 1774 and 1788, several men held this title. Peyton Randolph was the first to be called "President" of the Continental Congress in 1774. Then you had the famous John Hancock, who signed the Declaration of Independence with that massive signature. Then came John Hanson in 1781, who was the first to serve a full term under the ratified Articles of Confederation.
So, strictly speaking, if you are looking at the words "President" and "United States" appearing together in a job title, George Washington was not the first.
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Why the "Hanson First" Argument Usually Fails
If you go to Frederick, Maryland, you’ll see plenty of tributes to John Hanson. People there take this very seriously. The argument is that since the United States officially became a confederation in 1781, and Hanson was the first guy to lead that body, he’s the real #1.
But here’s the thing: the job Hanson had was basically just a glorified moderator position.
He didn't have the power to enforce laws. He couldn't tax people. He couldn't lead the military. He was essentially the Chairman of the Board for a committee that had very little actual power over the thirteen states. If a state decided they didn't want to pay their taxes (which happened constantly), Hanson couldn't do anything about it. He was a clerk. A very important clerk, sure, but a clerk nonetheless.
When we ask was George Washington the first president of the United States, we aren't usually asking who the first guy to use the title was. We are asking who was the first head of state. Who was the first person to lead the three branches of government?
Under the Constitution—the document that actually creates the government we live under today—Washington was the first. Period.
The Massive Gap in Power
To understand the difference, you have to look at what Washington actually did. He created the Cabinet. He established the federal court system. He showed that the federal government could put down a rebellion (the Whiskey Rebellion) if it had to. The guys before him, the "Presidents of Congress," were more like the Speaker of the House today, but with significantly less clout.
The Timeline of the "Other" Presidents
If you want to win a trivia night, you should probably memorize at least a few of the names that came before 1789. It makes you sound incredibly smart, even if it is a bit of a technicality.
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- Peyton Randolph: The first President of the Continental Congress (1774).
- John Hancock: Served during the thick of the Revolution.
- John Hanson: The first to serve under the Articles of Confederation (1781).
- Elias Boudinot: Presided over the end of the Revolutionary War.
- Richard Henry Lee: A heavy hitter from Virginia who led the Congress in the mid-1780s.
- Cyrus Griffin: The very last "President" before the new Constitution kicked in.
Cyrus Griffin is a great example of why this distinction matters. He resigned his post because the government was basically falling apart. The Articles of Confederation were failing so badly that the states decided they needed a "stronger" central figure. They needed a real executive. They needed Washington.
Why Washington is the "Real" First
The reason we don't count the guys before 1789 isn't a historical oversight. It’s a legal distinction. The Articles of Confederation created a "league of friendship" between sovereign states. It wasn't a single nation-state in the modern sense. It was more like the European Union today—a collection of independent countries trying to coordinate.
When the Constitution was ratified, that changed. The United States became a single federal entity.
Washington was the first person elected by the Electoral College. He was the first to take the oath of office prescribed by the Constitution. He was the first to hold the "Executive Power."
So, while John Hanson might have been the first guy with a business card that said "President," George Washington was the first person to actually do the job we recognize as the Presidency.
The Mystery of the "First" Title
It's also worth noting that Washington himself was incredibly nervous about the title. People didn't know what to call him. Some suggested "His Highness" or "His Elective Majesty." Vice President John Adams, who was a bit of a snob for tradition, thought "President" sounded too wimpy. He wanted something that commanded respect.
Washington insisted on "Mr. President." This choice alone proves why he belongs at the top of the list. He was intentionally trying to distance himself from the monarchs of Europe and the weak chairmen of the old Continental Congress. He was creating a third way.
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What Most People Get Wrong About 1789
There’s this weird myth that Washington just showed up and everyone agreed he was the boss. In reality, the country was deeply divided. North Carolina and Rhode Island hadn't even ratified the Constitution when Washington was inaugurated in April 1789. He was the president of only 11 states at the start.
The question of was George Washington the first president of the United States often ignores how fragile the whole experiment was. If Washington hadn't been the first, the country probably wouldn't have survived. The men who served before him under the Articles of Confederation found it impossible to keep the states together. They didn't have the "gravitas." Washington did.
How to Think About This History
History isn't always a straight line. It's more like a series of drafts.
- Draft 1: The Continental Congress (1774-1781). A loose group of rebels.
- Draft 2: The Articles of Confederation (1781-1789). A formal but weak alliance.
- Draft 3: The U.S. Constitution (1789-Present). The actual birth of the modern American government.
If you're talking about Draft 2, John Hanson is your guy. But if you're talking about the United States as it exists as a legal and political reality today, Washington is the undisputed first.
Actionable Takeaways for History Buffs
If you're looking to dive deeper into this or just want to be the smartest person in the room during your next history debate, here is how you should handle the "Who was the first president" question:
- Acknowledge the Nuance: Don't just say "No, it's Washington." Say, "It depends on whether you mean under the Articles of Confederation or the Constitution." This immediately shows you actually know your stuff.
- Read the Original Documents: Take ten minutes to look at the preamble of the Articles of Confederation versus the Constitution. The difference in language—from a "perpetual union" of states to "We the People"—explains why Washington’s presidency was a completely different animal.
- Visit the Sites: If you're ever in Maryland, visit the John Hanson sites. It’s a great way to see the "alternative" side of American history and understand the regional pride that keeps this debate alive.
- Study the "Interregnum": Look into the "Critical Period" (1783-1789). Most people skip from the end of the war straight to Washington's inauguration. Understanding the chaos of those middle years makes you realize why the first "Presidents of Congress" couldn't get the job done.
Ultimately, the answer to was George Washington the first president of the United States is a resounding yes—with a very interesting asterisk. He was the first to lead the nation we actually recognize today. The men who came before him were the pioneers of a failed system, and their failure is exactly what made Washington's success possible.
The next time someone tries to tell you John Hanson was the first president, you can tell them they're technically right about the name, but fundamentally wrong about the power. That’s the kind of nuance that makes history actually interesting. Washington wasn't just the first; he was the one who made the office matter. Without him, "President" would just be another forgotten title in a dead document.