Our First President, John Hanson 1715 1783

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Our First President, John Hanson1715 - 1783

• Karen Jacobs
• Morgan Road Middle School
• Hiers Blvd.
• Hephzibah, GA 30815

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What are the qualifications of becoming the
president?

• Must be a citizen of the United States by birth
• At least 35 years old
• Resident of the United States for 14 years

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What are the roles of the president?

• Chief Executive
• Chief Diplomat
• Commander of Chief
• Chief of State
• Legislative Leader

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Chief Executive

• As chief executive the president is
  responsible for carrying out the nations laws.

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Chief Diplomat

• As chief diplomat, the president directs
  foreign policy, appoints ambassadors, and
  negotiates treaties with other nations.

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Commander in Chief

• As commander in chief of the armed forces,
  the president can use the military to intervene
  or offer assistance in crises at home and around
  the world. He cannot declare warCongress holds
  this power.

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Chief of the State

• As chief of the state, the president serves a
  symbolic role as the representative of all
  Americans. He fulfills this role when receiving
  foreign ambassadors or heads of state, visiting
  foreign nations, or bestowing honors on Americans.

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Legislative Leader

• The president serves as a legislative leader
  by proposing laws to Congress and working to see
  that they are passed. In the annual State of the
  Union address, the president presents goals for
  legislation.

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Who was John Hanson?

• John Hanson was born in Maryland. He
  displayed energy and decisive patriotism at the
  commencement of the Revolutionary war. He was
  elected a delegate to Congress, and while a
  member of that body his reputation for practical
  ability steadily rose. In 1781, Mr. Hanson was
  elected president of Congress, and he continued
  to hold that office until 1783, when death
  removed him from the scene of his patriotic
  services

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What was his personal life like?

• He was named after his grandfather who came from
  England.
• His parents owned a farm.
• He had no formal education while growing up.

• He followed the family tradition as a planter.
• He married Jane Contee in 1744.
• He died at his nephews plantation at Oxon Hill
  in Prince Georges County, MD.

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Political Career

• Represented Charles County in the colonial
  assembly in 1757
• Served several positions in local government
• Gained a reputation as an out spoken supporter of
  moves towards revolution

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Political Career continues

• His speeches contributed to Marylands decision
  to support rebels engaged in the Siege of Boston
• December 1779 House of Delegates named as one of
  the delegates of the Continental Congress

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Political career continues

• June 14, 1781 took his seat in Philadelphia
• Articles of Confederation were ratified by all
  states
• March 1, 1781 joined Daniel Carroll in endorsing
  Maryland

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John Hanson the President

• 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 as the revolutionary
  war ended.Almost immediately, the troops demanded
  to be paid. There were no funds, as a result the
  soldiers threatened to overthrow the new
  government and put Washington on the throne as a
  monarch.

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His presidency continues

• All the members of the Congress ran for their
  lives. He managed to calm the troops and hold the
  country together.
• He later ordered all foreign troops off
  American soil, as well as the removal of all
  foreign flags. This was quiet a feat, considering
  the fact that many European countries had a stake
  in the United States since the days of Columbus.

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John Hanson

• He later established the first Treasury
  department, the first Secretary of War, and the
  first Foreign Affairs Department.
• He declared that the fourth Thursday of every
  November to be Thanksgiving Day.
• The Articles of Confederation allowed a President
  to serve a one-year term during a three year
  period.

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• He served from November 5, 1781 November 3,
  1782.
• First President to serve a full term after the
  full ratification of the Articles of
  Confederation.
• Remained a confirmed anti-federalist until his
  death.

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Remember- six other presidents were elected after
him

• Elias Boudinot (1783)
• Thomas Mifflin(1784)
• Richard H. Lee (1785)

• Nathan Gorman(1786)
• Arthur St. Clair (1787)
• Cyrus Griffin (1788)

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Why dont we ever hear about the first seven
Presidents of the United States?

• Its quite simple! The Articles of
  Confederation didnt 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.

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In conclusion..

• George Washington was definitely not the first
  President of the United States. He was the first
  President if the United States under the
  Constitution we follow today. And the first seven
  Presidents are forgotten in history.