Ask anyone on the street "who was the first president of the United States" and they’ll give you that look. You know the one. The "did you skip third grade?" look. George Washington. It’s the easiest trivia question in history, right?
Well, sort of.
If you want to be "that person" at a dinner party—the one who's technically right but maybe a little annoying—the answer is actually a lot messier than the guy on the dollar bill. Depending on how you define "President" and "United States," Washington might actually be the 15th guy to hold the job. Honestly, the story of how we settled on Washington says more about how fragile America was than any textbook ever admits.
The Men Before Washington (Yes, Really)
Before the Constitution was a thing, we had the Articles of Confederation. It was basically a "league of friendship" that barely worked. But it did have a leader.
Peyton Randolph was the very first person to be called "President" of the Continental Congress back in 1774. He wasn't leading a country; he was basically a moderator for a very heated committee meeting. Then you’ve got John Hancock, who famously signed the Declaration of Independence. He was a "President" too.
But the name that usually trips people up is John Hanson.
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In 1781, once the Articles were finally ratified, Hanson became the "President of the United States in Congress Assembled." Some folks argue he’s the real #1. But let's be real: Hanson’s job was mostly paperwork. He didn't have an army. He couldn't tax anyone. He hated the job so much he tried to quit after a week. He basically spent his term answering mail and wishing he was back in Maryland.
Why George Washington Was Actually Different
So why does Washington get the glory? Because the office he took in 1789 was an entirely different beast.
When Washington was sworn in on that balcony in New York City, he wasn't just a figurehead. He was the first person to hold executive power under the Constitution. He could veto laws, command the military, and actually run the government.
The guys before him were more like the Speaker of the House. Washington was the Boss.
The Election That Wasn't Really a Race
You've probably heard Washington was "unanimously" elected. It sounds like a North Korean election result, but it was actually legit. In 1789, there were 69 electors. Every single one of them put Washington’s name on their ballot.
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He didn't even want the job. He wanted to go back to Mount Vernon, fix his fences, and stop worrying about politics. But everyone—from Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Jefferson—knew that if anyone else took the job first, the whole country would probably fall apart in twenty minutes.
The "First" Pressure Cooker
Everything Washington did was a "first." He was obsessed with it. He knew that if he acted too much like a king, the Revolution was a waste. If he acted too weak, the country would get eaten by Britain or France.
- The Cabinet: The Constitution doesn't actually say the President should have a "Cabinet." Washington just decided he needed smart people to yell at each other so he could make decisions.
- The "Mr. President" Title: People wanted to call him "His Highness" or "His Elective Majesty." Washington went with "Mr. President." Simple. Humble. Kinda cool.
- The Two-Term Limit: There was no law saying he had to leave after eight years. He could have stayed until he died. By walking away, he proved that the office was bigger than the man.
Common Misconceptions About the First Presidency
We tend to deify these guys, but the first presidency was a mess of internal drama and mistakes.
1. He lived in the White House.
Nope. He never did. He lived in New York and then Philadelphia. He helped pick the spot for D.C., but he died before the "President’s House" was finished.
2. He had wooden teeth.
Honestly, this is the weirdest myth. His dentures were made of ivory, gold, and—sadly—human teeth purchased from enslaved people. It’s a grim reminder that even the "Father of His Country" was a man of his time, deeply entangled in the institution of slavery.
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3. He was a Federalist.
Washington hated political parties. He thought they were "frightful" and would destroy the country. He tried to stay neutral, even though his Secretary of the Treasury (Hamilton) and Secretary of State (Jefferson) basically invented the two-party system while sitting at his dinner table.
What This Means for You Today
Understanding who the first president was isn't just about winning a bar bet. It’s about realizing that the American government was an experiment that nearly failed a dozen times in its first decade.
If you're looking to dive deeper into how this impacts our world today, here’s how to actually use this info:
- Read the Farewell Address: It’s not just a dusty old speech. It’s a warning about hyper-partisanship that feels like it was written yesterday.
- Check out the Articles of Confederation: If you think the current government is "limited," go see how the 14 guys before Washington struggled. It’ll give you a new appreciation for why the Constitution was written the way it was.
- Visit Mount Vernon or the National Constitution Center: Seeing the actual scale of these places helps move these people out of the "statue" category and back into being real humans.
Washington was the first because he was the only one who could bridge the gap between a "moderator" and a "leader." Whether or not you count the guys from the Continental Congress, he was the one who made the office what it is.