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The Smithsonian Institute, the National Archives of the United States and the Library of Congress have corrected their websites and exhibits to reflect that the Articles of Confederation's government commenced on March 1st, 1781, with Samuel Huntington serving as the first President of the United States in Congress Assembled (USCA). This reverses the 1903 official position of the United States Congress that the Articles of Confederation government commenced on November 5th, 1781, with John Hanson serving as the first USCA President. Additionally, all three government institutions recognized that Samuel Johnston (who declined the office) and Thomas McKean were elected to the USCA Presidency, July 9th and 10th, 1781, respectively, under the ratified Articles of Confederation after Samuel Huntington resigned the office on July 6th, 1781, due to illness. Specifically, a sampling of the numerous corrections include:
The Smithsonian Institute has removed The American Presidency, A Glorious Burden exhibit’s plaque reporting that John Hanson was the first President to serve under the Articles of Confederation.
Additionally, on its website in April 2015, the Smithsonian Institute changed:
“John Hanson served as the first president of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation from 1781 to 1782” --TO-- “John Hanson served as an early President of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation from 1781 to 1782.”
“When all the states ratified the Articles of Confederation in 1781, they voted for the first President. John Hanson from Maryland was the first man to serve as the elected President of Congress under the Articles of Confederation, thus making him acting President of the United States” --TO-- “When all the states ratified the Articles of Confederation in 1781, they voted for the first President. John Hanson from Maryland was the first man to serve a full, one year term as the elected President of Congress under the Articles of Confederation, thus making him (the third*) acting President of the United States. … *Although John Hanson was the first elected to the position to serve a full 1 year term, two other individuals were elected President during or after the ratification of the Articles of Confederation: Samuel Huntington (1779) and Thomas McKean (1781).”
“John Hanson (1715-1783), a delegate from Maryland, was elected the first President of Congress under the Articles of Confederation. ... Some people claim that John Hanson rather than George Washington should be considered the first president." --TO-- "Between March 1, 1781, when the Articles of Confederation were enacted, and November 5, 1781, when a new Congress convened, Samuel Huntington and Thomas McKean served briefly as presidents of the body. Samuel Johnston had declined the presidency when elected. When Congress met on November 5, 1781, it elected John Hanson (1715-1783), delegate from Maryland, as its president. In this letter, Charles Thomson (1729-1824), secretary of the Continental Congress informs George Washington of Hanson's election. According to the Articles, the president of Congress presided only over Congress; George Washington, chosen after the ratification of the Federal Constitution, was the first president of the United States."
"It has been a long battle but our determination finally blossomed and the federal government has begun to reverse its 1903 Articles of Confederation errors. Now our attention has turned to the People of Maryland and their elected Representatives. On July 2nd, 2015, we wrote the Governor and Legislature requesting that Maryland cease and desist funding the promotion of John Hanson as the first President to either serve or be elected under the Articles of Confederation Constitution.
"To view Mr. Klos' letter to the State of Maryland, please click here.
To view Mr. Klos' latest correspondence with the Library of Congress, National Archives, and Smithsonian Institute Click Here
Students and Teachers of US History this is a video of Stanley and Christopher Klos presenting America's Four United Republics Curriculum at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. The December 2015 video was an impromptu capture by a member of the audience of Penn students, professors and guests that numbered about 200. - Click Here for more information
President John Hanson Myths: Debunked
By: Stanley Klos
The current Maryland Legislature, John Hanson Memorial Association, & other "Hansonite" proponents are doing intellectual harm by disseminating misinformation regarding John Hanson. JohnHanson.org is thus dedicated to debunking Hansonite urban legends, specious governmental legislation, and other stories of unknown or questionable origin proclaiming John Hanson as the first United States President, first Continental Congress President under the Articles of Confederation, first United States in Congress Assembled President, first President of the Congress of the Confederation, first Black United States President and the pronouncements that Jane Hanson is the first United States First Lady.
Therefore, to dispel these and other Hansonite Myths (Hansonite being defined as those who purport John Hanson fables contrary to the facts). This page is solely dedicated to refuting the fiction surrounding USCA President John Hanson. If you came to this site looking for a biographical entry on John Hanson, please visit -http://www.johnhanson.net.
Myth I
Was John Hanson the First President of the United States?
U.S. Presidential scholars have aptly compared and contrasted the differences between the current office of president under the U.S. Constitution of 1787 with the presidential office that once presided over the American Continental Congress and United States in Congress Assembled (USCA). Scholarly work, however, on the dichotomy between the presidents of the American Continental Congresses (September 5, 1774 - February 28, 1781) and those of the United States in Congress Assembled (i.e., presiding officers who served under the Articles of Confederation from March 1, 1781 to March 3, 1789) is woefully deficient. Moreover, most works on the unicameral presiding presidents (1774-1788) mistakenly combine the USCA, Colonial, and U.S. Continental Congress Presidents, as merely "Continental Congress Presidents." This deficiency of scholarly work on the presiding presidents is the primary reason why the myth "John Hanson: The First President of the United States," continues to thrive in the 21st Century.
The myth addressed here concerns "Who was the first President of the United States in Congress Assembled" (USCA President), and not "Who was the first President of the United States under the current U.S. Constitution" (U.S. President).
The USCA Presidential office was established by Article IX in the Articles of Confederation, which states: "... to appoint one of their members to preside, provided that no person be allowed to serve in the office of president more than one year." This first U.S. Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, defined no additional executive, legislative, or judicial duties for the USCA President other than "to preside." Presidential powers, as demarcated in the current U.S. Constitution, were thus left to be defined under the Articles of Confederation by the USCA.
Previous to the enactment of the Articles of Confederation, the first presiding president of the United Colonies Continental Congress was Peyton Randolph while after U.S. Independence, declared on July 2, 1776, the United States Continental Congress' first President was John Hancock. Neither Continental Congress Presidency had the benefit of being established by a ratified constitution. George Washington served as Commander-in-Chief under the Colonial Continental Congress, U.S. Continental Congress, and the United States in Congress Assembled, was elected the first President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief under the current United States Constitution. With those Presidents firmly established in the annals of U.S. History, we now turn to a more precisely worded question:
Was John Hanson the first United States in Congress Assembled President to serve under the Articles of Confederation?
Author Seymour Wemyss Smith's claim that John Hanson was the first President of the United States has been around since the turn of the 20th Century. The myth gained prominence when John Hanson’s family began to lobby for their ancestor’s inclusion in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall as one of Maryland's two most favored citizens. The family was successful and in 1903 a statue of John Hanson, along with one of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, was included in the National Statuary Hall Collection. The “official" U.S. Federal acknowledgement of President John Hanson as the first President of the “United States in Congress Assembled” or “Congress of the Confederation” occurred at the U.S. Capitol during the January 31, 1903, Reception and Acceptance Statuary Hall Ceremonies.
The speeches of U.S. Senators and other dignitaries maintaining that John Hanson was the first President to serve under the Articles of Confederation are memorialized in the work, Proceedings in the Senate and House of Representatives Upon the Reception and Acceptance from the State of Maryland of the Statues of Charles Carroll of Carrollton and of John Hanson, Erected in Statuary Hall of the Capitol: January 31, 1903, which was ordered, in 1903, by the United States Congress to be printed by the U.S. Government Printing Office. The printed work totals 111 pages and can be found online here.
The myth addressed here concerns "Who was the first President of the United States in Congress Assembled" (USCA President), and not "Who was the first President of the United States under the current U.S. Constitution" (U.S. President).
The USCA Presidential office was established by Article IX in the Articles of Confederation, which states: "... to appoint one of their members to preside, provided that no person be allowed to serve in the office of president more than one year." This first U.S. Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, defined no additional executive, legislative, or judicial duties for the USCA President other than "to preside." Presidential powers, as demarcated in the current U.S. Constitution, were thus left to be defined under the Articles of Confederation by the USCA.
Previous to the enactment of the Articles of Confederation, the first presiding president of the United Colonies Continental Congress was Peyton Randolph while after U.S. Independence, declared on July 2, 1776, the United States Continental Congress' first President was John Hancock. Neither Continental Congress Presidency had the benefit of being established by a ratified constitution. George Washington served as Commander-in-Chief under the Colonial Continental Congress, U.S. Continental Congress, and the United States in Congress Assembled, was elected the first President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief under the current United States Constitution. With those Presidents firmly established in the annals of U.S. History, we now turn to a more precisely worded question:
Was John Hanson the first United States in Congress Assembled President to serve under the Articles of Confederation?
Author Seymour Wemyss Smith's claim that John Hanson was the first President of the United States has been around since the turn of the 20th Century. The myth gained prominence when John Hanson’s family began to lobby for their ancestor’s inclusion in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall as one of Maryland's two most favored citizens. The family was successful and in 1903 a statue of John Hanson, along with one of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, was included in the National Statuary Hall Collection. The “official" U.S. Federal acknowledgement of President John Hanson as the first President of the “United States in Congress Assembled” or “Congress of the Confederation” occurred at the U.S. Capitol during the January 31, 1903, Reception and Acceptance Statuary Hall Ceremonies.
The speeches of U.S. Senators and other dignitaries maintaining that John Hanson was the first President to serve under the Articles of Confederation are memorialized in the work, Proceedings in the Senate and House of Representatives Upon the Reception and Acceptance from the State of Maryland of the Statues of Charles Carroll of Carrollton and of John Hanson, Erected in Statuary Hall of the Capitol: January 31, 1903, which was ordered, in 1903, by the United States Congress to be printed by the U.S. Government Printing Office. The printed work totals 111 pages and can be found online here.
It is from this U.S. Congressional printing that the "John Hanson First Presidential Myth", purported by his family, gained its dreadful foothold in the annals of Congressional blunders. The work clearly reports that numerous distinguished politicians, including prominent U.S. Senators, wrongfully claimed that John Hanson was the first President to serve under the Articles of Confederation. Specifically, the speech of Louis Emory McComas (1846 - 1907), U.S. Senator of Maryland claimed that John Hanson was the "first President of the Congress of the Confederation:"
The speech of George Louis Wellington (1852 - 1927), U.S. Senator of Maryland, is often quoted by numerous Hansonites as evidence that the surrender of Cornwallis occurred during John Hanson's Presidency:
John Hanson, of Maryland, was chosen as President, and thus became "President of the United States in Congress Assembled," occupying that exalted position until 1782, during the eventful period when American armies, in conjunction with their French allies, finally triumphed, when beneath the rays of an October sun George Washington received the sword of his captive, Cornwallis... He was the first President of the United States in Congress Assembled.Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781, when Thomas McKean, not John Hanson, was President of the United States in Congress assembled.
The address of Augustus Octavius Bacon (1839 - 1914), the U.S. Senator from Georgia also adds to the confusion, claiming that John Hanson was the "first President of the United States in Congress Assembled":
Thirty years later, this 1903 Myth inspired journalist Seymour Wemyss Smith to expand the specious rhetoric and write the book John Hanson: Our First President. The book, filled with an enormous amount of misinformation, asserts at the beginning of Chapter Four on page 39:
The Revolution had two distinct and separate phases. One was the military outcome of the war, under the leadership of George Washington. The other was purely political under the leadership of John Hanson.
Since then, National Statuary Hall’s purporting John Hanson as the first President under the Articles of Confederation has been perpetuated by books,[7] articles,[8] the Library of Congress,[9] the State of Maryland, the Smithsonian Institute [10] and even the U.S. Post Office. [11] It should be noted that Maryland’s dated claims carry great weight with the Federal Government because the major repository for the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration for historic documents and official record storage is located in Rockville, MD.
In 2009 the John Hanson Memorial Association was incorporated in Frederick, Maryland to create the John Hanson National Memorial and to both educate Americans about Hanson as well as counter the many myths written about him. The Memorial includes a statue of President John Hanson and an interpretive setting in Frederick, Maryland, where Hanson lived between 1769 and his death in 1783. The Memorial is in the Frederick County Courthouse's courtyard at the corner of Court and West Patrick Streets. Leaders of the Memorial include President Peter Hanson Michael, Vice President Robert Hanson and Directors John Hanson Briscoe and John C. Hanson. - John Hanson Wikipedia page.
On an even more poignant historical note the local Frederick, Maryland history bee was won by a student answering that “John Hanson was the first President of the United States."
Maryland is not alone in claiming that the Articles of Confederation’s United States Republic began on November 5th, 1781. In February, 2004, I had the privilege to contribute Continental Congress and Articles of Confederation primary sources to the Smithsonian traveling exhibit, “A Glorious Burden: The American Presidency.”
The exhibit began with an image of President John Hanson with the Smithsonian stating that "John Hanson of Maryland served as the first president of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation from 1781 to 1781." [13]
The Smithsonian’s imprimatur of the Hanson Family's claim -- that the Articles of Confederation’s Presidency began on November 5th, 1781 -- went beyond the 1903 speeches at Statuary Hall by pronouncing that the USCA governing body was also the Continental Congress.
The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden Smithsonian Exhibit Entrance - Photo Courtesy of Historic.us
For the purpose of brevity, the case made for John Hanson being the first USCA President under the Articles of Confederation is summarized as follows:
- The Articles of Confederation is the first United States Constitution but its government was not formed with its enactment on March 1, 1781. The Articles of Confederation government actually formed when the United States in Congress Assembled (USCA) convened on November 5, 1781.
- On November 5, 1781, the USCA Delegates elected John Hanson as United States in Congress Assembled President. Hanson, therefore, is the first man to serve as President under the Articles of Confederation and thus the "First President of the United States."
- The Samuel Huntington and Thomas McKean Presidencies are merely carryovers from the Second Continental Congress Presidency, an entirely different Republic. They are not Presidents who served in the United States in Congress Assembled, Articles of Confederation's Government.
Refutation:
The First Presidents of the United Colonies & States of America
United Colonies & States Presidential Firsts:
1774 - 1776 - 1781 - 1789
In 1780, the U.S. Continental Congress (as opposed to the Colonial First and Second Continental Congresses) was convened with delegates who had all been elected by 12 of the 13 states that had ratified the Articles of Confederation. Only Maryland had failed to approve the Articles of Confederation, choosing to delay the required unanimous ratification until the states agreed to assign their land claims in the Northwest Territory to the United States in Congress Assembled (USCA).
Maryland ratified the Articles of Confederation on February 2nd, 1781, and sent its two delegates to assemble with the other state delegations and decide when to enact the new constitution and thus form the new Articles of Confederation Republic. Article I named the "Confederacy" and Article II named the new governing body:
I. The Stile of this Confederacy shall be "The United States of America".
II. Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.
On February 20th, 1781, Daniel Carroll wrote Charles Carroll of Carrollton on presenting Maryland’s Articles of Confederation ratification resolution to the U.S. Continental Congress in Philadelphia:
On February 22, 1781, it was unanimously resolved by the U.S. Continental Congress that:On the first day of my appearing in Congress, I delivered the Act empowering the Delegates of Maryland to Subscribe the Articles of Confederation &c.! It was read, & entered on the Journals.[15]
The delegates of Maryland having taken their seats in Congress with powers to sign the Articles of Confederation: Ordered, That Thursday next [March 1, 1781] be assigned for compleating the Confederation; and that a committee of three be appointed, to consider and report a mode for announcing the same to the public: the members, [Mr. George] Walton, Mr. [James] Madison, Mr. [John] Mathews.
According to the resolution, at high noon on March 1, 1781, after 39 months of ratification consideration, the Articles of Confederation were adopted by the U.S. Continental Congress as the first U.S. Constitution. By virtue of this ratification, the ever fluid U.S. Continental Congress ceased to exist and was replaced by the United States in Congress Assembled (USCA) governing body. The elated Minister of France was the first to address Samuel Huntington as “His Excellency the President of the United States, in Congress Assembled”.
"His Excellency, President of the United States in Congress Assembled." - Image Courtesy of Historic.us
IN pursuance of an Act of the Legislature of Maryland, intituled, 'An Act to empower the Delegates of the State in Congress to subscribe and ratify the Articles of Confederation,' the Delegates of the said State, on Thursday last, at twelve o, signed and ratified the Articles of Confederation; by which act the Confederation of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA was compleated, each and every of the Thirteen States, from New Hampshire to George, both included, having adopted and confirmed, and by their Delegates in Congress ratified the same.
This happy event was immediately announced to the public by the discharge of the artillery on land, and the cannon of the shipping in the river Delaware. At two his Excellency the President of Congress received on this occasion the congratulations of the Hon. the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, and of the Legislative and Executive Bodies of this State, of the Civil and Military Officers, sundry strangers of distinction in town, and of many of the principal inhabitants.
The evening was closed by an elegant exhibition of fireworks. The Ariel frigate, commanded by the gallant John Paul Jones, fired a feu de joye, and was beautifully decorated with a variety of streamers in the day, and ornamented with a brilliant appearance of lights in the night.
Thus will the first of March, 1781, be a day memorable in the annals of America, for the final ratification of the Confederation and perpetual Union of the Thirteen States of America --- A Union, begun by necessity, cemented by oppression and common danger, and now finally consolidated into a perpetual confederacy of these new and rising States: And thus the United States of America, having, amidst the calamities of a destructive war, established a solid foundation of greatness, are growing up into consequence among the nations, while their haughty enemy, Britain, with all her boasted wealth and grandeur, instead of bringing them to her feet and reducing them to unconditional submission, finds her hopes blasted, her power crumbling to pieces, and the empire which, with overbearing insolence and brutality she exercised on the ocean, divided among her insulted neighbours.
Page of The Journals of Congress and the United States in Congress Assembled, For the Year 1781, Published By Order of Congress, Volume VII New York: Printed by John Patterson. This edition title page differentiates between the Journals of the Congress, which expire March 1, 1781, and the Journals of the United States in Congress Assembled commencing on March 2, 1781 after the enactment of the Articles of Confederation - Historic.us Collection
March 2, 1781 Entry of The Journals of Congress and the United States in Congress Assembled, For the Year 1781, Published By Order of Congress, Volume VII New York: Printed by John Patterson. This entry reports that a new entity, The United States in Congress Assembled, now governs the United States of America -- Image courtesy of the Historic.us Collection.
On March 2nd, 1781, Secretary Charles Thomson placed the words "The United States in Congress Assembled" at the head of the new Journal of Congress and the minutes began:
The ratification of the Articles of Confederation being yesterday completed by the accession of the State of Maryland: The United States met in Congress, when the following members appeared: His Excellency Samuel Huntington, delegate for Connecticut, President...[16]
With the U.S. Continental Congress dissolved and the first U.S. Constitution now in effect, the United States in Congress Assembled government was immediately challenged with the fact that the Articles of Confederation required that both New Hampshire and Rhode Island, states with only one delegate physically present in the USCA, be excluded from voting in the new assembly. This was particularly dicey because, the day before, the two delegates had voted, as members of the Continental Congress, on numerous Treasury and Board of War resolutions required to conduct the war against Great Britain. Delaware Delegate Thomas Rodney, in his diary’s entry dated March 2nd, 1781, explained the conundrum faced by the USCA on Delegate voting in the new Congress:
The States of New Hampshire and Rhode Island having each but one Member in Congress, they became unrepresented by the Confirmation of the Confederation-By which not more than Seven nor less than two Members is allowed to represent any State -Whereupon General Sullivan, Delegate from New Hampshire moved - That Congress would appoint a Committee of the States, and Adjourn till those States Could Send forward a Sufficient number of Delegates to represent them-Or that they would allow their Delegates now in Congress To give the Vote of the States until one More from each of those States was Sent to Congress to Make their representation Complete.
He alleged that it was but just for Congress to do one or the other of them-for that the act of Congress by completing the Confederation ought not to deprive those States of their representation without giving them due Notice, as their representation was complete before, & that they did not know When the Confederation Would be Completed. Therefore if the Confederation put it out of the power of Congress to Allow the States vote in Congress because there was but one member from each them, they ought in justice to those States to appoint a Committee of the States, in which they would have an Equal Voice. This Motion was Seconded by Genl. Vernon from Rhode Island and enforced by Arguments to the same purpose.But all their Arguments were ably confuted by Mr. Burke of N.C. and others, and the absurdity of the motion fully pointed out, So that the question passed off without a Division -But it was the general Opinion of Congress that those members might Continue to Sit in Congress, and Debate & Serve on Committees though they could not give the vote of their States.
It was unanimously agreed by the USCA that the Articles of Confederation was in full force and for a State to have a vote in the new Congress, unlike the U.S. Continental Congress, two or more delegates were required in accordance with Article V: "No State shall be represented in Congress by less than two, nor more than seven members."
The Articles of Confederation government was thus deemed to be in full force by the USCA, with Samuel Huntington, not John Hanson, as the President. As irrefutable proof that Samuel Huntington's USCA was obliged to comply with the Articles of Confederation, below is an image of two different entries from the Journals of Congress. The first entry is from the December 24th, 1778, Continental Congress vote tally taken while President Henry Laurens was presiding. The states of New Hampshire, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Georgia each had only one delegate present, and the States' votes of "ay" were registered as "ay" in the tally:
The Articles of Confederation government was thus deemed to be in full force by the USCA, with Samuel Huntington, not John Hanson, as the President. As irrefutable proof that Samuel Huntington's USCA was obliged to comply with the Articles of Confederation, below is an image of two different entries from the Journals of Congress. The first entry is from the December 24th, 1778, Continental Congress vote tally taken while President Henry Laurens was presiding. The states of New Hampshire, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Georgia each had only one delegate present, and the States' votes of "ay" were registered as "ay" in the tally:
Thursday, December 24, 1778 Journals of Congress entry of the US Continental Congress vote on " the support of the charge against Brigadier Thompson, be rejected, and that the deposition of Colonel Noarth, produced last night by Brigadier Thompson in his own exculpation from the charge, be also rejected ... passed in the negative" Journals of Congress Containing the proceedings from January 1st, 1779 to Jan. 1st, 1780 PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF Congress, Philadelphia, by David Claypoole, VOLUME V. -- Image courtesy of the Historic.us Collection.
The second entry is from the March 22nd, 1781, United States in Congress Assembled vote tally taken while President Samuel Huntington was presiding. The states of New Hampshire, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Georgia each had only one delegate present, and the States' votes of "ay" were registered as " * " having no effect in the tally:
Thursday, MARCH 22, 1781 Journals of Congress entry of the USCA vote "Resolved, That there be one deputy director of the military hospitals,in the Southern district subject to the general control of the director... So it passed in the negative." The Journals of Congress and the United States in Congress Assembled, For the Year 1781, Published By Order of Congress, Volume VII New York: Printed by John Patterson. -- Image courtesy of the Historic.us Collection.
As a final "voting proof" that President Samuel Huntington presided as the first USCA President, here is a third entry from November 14th, 1781, of a United States in Congress Assembled vote tally taken while President John Hanson was presiding. The states of Connecticut and North Carolina each had only one delegate present, and the States' votes of "ay" were again registered as " * ", having no effect in the tally:
Wednesday, November 14, 1781 Journals of Congress entry of the USCA vote "That the first Tuesday of December next, be assigned for the consideration of the report of the committee, to whom were referred the cessions of New York, Virginia, Connecticut, and the petitions of the Indiana, Vandalia, Illionois, and Wabash companies. A motion was made by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Varnum, to amend, by adding, "provided that eleven states shall be then represented." On the question to agree to the amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Varnum, ... So it passed in the negative." The Journals of Congress and the United States in Congress Assembled, For the Year 1781, Published By Order of Congress, Volume VII New York: Printed by John Patterson. -- Image courtesy of the Historic.us Collection.
Samuel Huntington would continue as USCA President for four months, issuing letters, resolutions, military commissions and even USCA Proclamations as President, such as this one calling for the first national "Day of Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer" under the ratified Articles of Confederation:
The United States in Congress Assembled, March 20th, 1781, Proclamation signed by Samuel Huntington as President, calling for the first National "Day of Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer" under the Articles of Confederation - in part: The United States in Congress assembled, therefore do earnestly recommend, that Thursday the third day of May next, may be observed as a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer, that we may, with united hearts, confess and bewail our manifold sins and transgressions, and by sincere repentance and amendment of life, appease his righteous displeasure, and through the merits of our blessed Saviour, obtain pardon and forgiveness:
On May 4th, 1781, after three months of committee work and a final debate, the United States in Congress Assembled approved the thirty-five rules for conducting the nation’s business under the Articles of Confederation, with John Hanson absent from the congress. The new rules stripped the Presidential office of its important political power to choose when and what matter came before the United States in Congress Assembled. It is no wonder that President Samuel Huntington resigned and on July 8th, 1781, Delegate Thomas McKean would write to Samuel Adams, about the upcoming presidential election as "this honor is going a begging; there is only one Gentleman, and he from the Southward, who seems willing to accept, but I question whether he will be elected."
Rules for Conduction Business, in the United States in Congress Assembled dated May 4th, 1781, in this entry of The Journals of Congress and the United States in Congress Assembled, For the Year 1781, Published By Order of Congress, Volume VII New York: Printed by John Patterson. This entry reports the that new governing entity, The United States in Congress Assembled, now governs the United States of America --Image courtesy of the Historic.us Collection.
Rules for Conducting Business in the United States in Congress Assembled. May 4th, 1781
1. As soon as seven states are met the President may assume the chair, upon which the members shall take their seats.
2. The minutes of the preceding day shall then be read, and after that the public letters, petitions and memorials, if any have been received or presented.
3. Every letter, petition or memorial read, on which no order is moved, shall of course be considered as ordered to lie on the table, and may be taken up at any future time.
4. After the public dispatches, &c., the reports of committees which may have been delivered by them to the secretary during that morning or the preceding day shall, for the information of the house, be read in the order in which they were delivered, and, if it is judged proper, a day be assigned for considering them.
5. After the public letters, &c., are read, and orders given concerning them, the reports of the Board of Treasury and of the Board of War, if any, shall be taken into consideration; but none of those subjects for the determination of which the assent of nine states is requisite shall be agitated or debated, except when nine states or more are assembled. When a doubt is raised whether any motion or question is of the number of those for the determination of which in the affirmative the articles of confederation require the assent of nine states, the votes and assent of nine states shall always be necessary to solve that doubt, and to determine upon such motions or questions.
6. When a report, which has been read and lies for consideration, is called for it shall immediately be taken up. If two or more are called for, the titles of the several reports shall be read, and then the President shall put the question beginning with the first called for, but there shall be no debate, and the votes of a majority of the states present shall determine which is to be taken up.
7. An order of the day, when called for by a State shall always have the preference and shall not be postponed but by the votes of a majority of the United States in Congress assembled.
8. When a report is brought forward for consideration it shall first be read over and then debated by paragraphs and each paragraph shall be subject to amendments. If it relates only to one subject being in the nature of an ordinance it shall be subject to such additions as may be judged proper to render it complete and then it shall be read over as it stands amended and a question taken upon the whole: But if it comprehends different subjects, independent one of another, in the form of distinct acts or resolutions a question shall be taken on each and finally a question on the whole.
9. No motion shall be received unless it be made or Negatived, seconded by a state. When any ordinance is introduced by report or otherwise, it shall be read a first time for the information of the house without debate. The President shall then put the following question "Shall this ordinance be read a second time." If it passes in the affirmative then a time shall be appointed for that purpose when it shall be read and debated by paragraphs and when gone through, the question shall be "Shall this ordinance be read a third time"; if agreed to, and a time appointed, it shall be accordingly read by paragraphs, and if necessary debated, and when gone through the question shall be "Shall this ordinance pass", if the vote is in the affirmative, a fair copy shall then be made out by the Secretary, either on parchment or paper and signed by the President and attested by the Secretary in Congress and recorded in the Secretary's office.
10. When a motion is made and seconded it shall be repeated by the President or If he or any other member desire being in writing it shall be delivered to the President in writing and read aloud at the table before it, shall be debated.
11. Every motion shall be reduced to writing and read at the table before it is debated if the President or any member require it.
12. After a motion is repeated by the President or read at the table it shall then be in the possession of the house, but may at any time before decision, be withdrawn, with the consent of a majority of the states present.
13. No member shall speak more than twice in any one debate on the same day, with-out leave of the house, nor shall any member speak twice in a debate until every member, who chooses, shall have spoken once on the same.
14. Before an original motion shall be brought before the house, it shall be entered in a book to be kept for the purpose and to lie on the table for the inspection of the members, and the time shall be mentioned underneath when the motion is to be made, that the members may some prepared and nothing he brought on hastily or by surprise.
15. When a question is before the house and under debate, no motion shall be received unless for amending it, for the previous question, or to postpone the consideration of the main question or to commit it.
16. No new motion or proposition shall be admitted under color of amendment as a substitute for the question or proposition under debate until it is postponed or disagreed to.
17. When a motion is made to amend by striking out certain words, whether for the purpose of inserting other words or not, the first question shall be "Shall the words moved to be struck out stand?"
18. The previous question (which is always to be understood in this sense that the main question be not now put) shall only be admitted when in the judgment of two states at least, the subject moved is in its nature or from the circumstances of time or place improper to be debated or decided, and shall therefore preclude all amendments and farther debates on the subject, until it is decided.
19. A motion for commitment shall also have preference and preclude all amendments and debates on the subject until it shall be decided.
20. On motions for the previous question for committing or for postponing no member shall speak more than once without leave of the house.
21. When any subject shall be deemed so important as to require mature discussionor deliberation before it be submitted to the decision of the United States in Congress assembled, it shall be referred to the consideration of a grand committee consisting of one member present from each State, and in such case each State shall nominate its member. But the United States in Congress assembled shall in no case whatever be resolved into a committee of the whole. Every member may attend the debates of a grand committee and for that purpose the time and place of its meeting shall be fixed by the United States in Congress assembled.
22. The states shall ballot for small committees, but if upon counting the ballots, the number required shall not be elected by a majority of the United States in Congress assembled, the President shall name the members who have been balloted for, and the house shall by a vote or votes determine the committee.
23. If a question under debate contains several points any member may have it divided.
24. When a question is about to be put, it shall be in the power of any one of the states to postpone the determination thereof until the next day, and in such case, unless it shall be further postponed by order of the house the question shall, the next day immediately after reading the public dispatches, &c. and before the house go upon other business, be put without any debate, provided there be a sufficient number of states present to determine it; if that should not be the case, it shall be put without debate as soon as a sufficient number shall have assembled.
25. If any member choose to have the yeas and nays taken upon any question, he shall move for the same previous to the President's putting the question and in such case every member present shall openly and without debate declare by ay or no his assent or dissent to the question.
26. When an ordinance act or resolution is introduced with a preamble, the ordinance, act or resolution shall be first debated, and after it is passed, the preamble if judged necessary shall be adapted thereto: But if the preamble states some matter or thing as fact to which the house do not agree by general consent, and the ordinance, act or resolution is grounded thereon, the preamble shall be withdrawn or the fact resolved on as it appears to the house previous to any debate on the ordinance act or resolution; and if the fact shall not be established to the satisfaction of a majority of the United States in Congress assembled, the ordinance, act or resolution shall fall of course.
27. Every member when he chooses to speak shall rise and address the President. When two members chance to rise at the same time, the President shall name the person who is to speak first. Every member both in debate, and while the states are assembled shall conduct himself with the utmost decency and decorum. If any member shall transgress, the President shall call to order. In case the disorder be continued or repeated the President may name the person transgressing. Any member may call to order.
28. When a member is called to order, he shall immediately sit down. If he has been named as a transgressor, his conduct shall be inquired into and he shall be liable to a censure.
29. When a question of order is moved, the President if he is in doubt may call for the judgment of the house, otherwise he shall in the first instance give a decision, and an appeal shall lie to the house, but there shall be no debate on questions of order,except that a member called to order for irregular or unbecoming conduct or for improper expressions may be allowed to explain.
30. A motion to adjourn may be made at any time and shall always be in order, and the question thereon shall always be put without any debate.
31. No member shall leave Congress without permission of Congress or of his constituents.
32. No member shall read any printed paper in the house during the sitting thereof.
33. On every Monday after reading and taking order on the public dispatches a committee of three shall be appointed, who shall every morning during the week report to Congress the orders necessary to be made on such dispatches as may be received during the adjournment or sitting of Congress, upon which no orders shall have been made. The members of such Committee not to be eligible a second time until all the other members have served.
34. The habit of a member of Congress in future shall be a plain purple gown with open-sleeves, plaited at the bend of the arm. And that no member be allowed to sit in Congress without such habit.
35. The members of each state shall sit together in Congress, for the more ready conference with each other on any question above be taken that the house might not be disturbed by the members moving Postponed. from one part to another to conferone the vote to be given. That for the better observance of order, New Hampshire shall sit on the left hand of the President and on every question be first called, and each state from thence to Georgia shall take their seats in the order that their states are situated to each other. The delegates of the respective states to sit in their order of seniority.
In addition to the mountains of primary sources recording Samuel Huntington's service as the first Articles of Confederation President, the USCA Journals report that there were two presidential elections occurring before John Hanson's Presidency and just after Huntington's resignation.
The first presidential election under the Articles of Confederation occurred on July 9th, 1781, and North Carolina Delegate Samuel Johnston was chosen the successor to the ailing Samuel Huntington. The following day, however, Johnston refused the office.
The handwritten July 9th, 1781, Journals of the USCA do record that the following measure was passed after Johnston’s election and thus, if he took the chair, he was technically USCA President for a day:
The honble. Samuel Johnston was elected.
A letter of this day, from the superintendant of finance was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. Mathews, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Sullivan.
The members, Mr. Mathews, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Sullivan.
Historians, however, conclude that Samuel Johnston did not take the chair after his election on July 9th, 1781, as the business was so brief that it was not recorded in numerous print issues of the Journals. The chair, they reason, must have remained with the Delegate or the USCA Secretary that was designated to preside over the election. This conclusion is substantiated by the Journals of the USCA reporting that, the following day, Samuel Johnston “declined” rather than "resigned" the office of President:
Mr. [Samuel] Johnston having declined to accept the office of President, and offered such reasons as were satisfactory, the House proceeded to another election; and, the ballots being taken, the Hon. Thomas McKean was elected. [17]
Delegate Thomas McKean accepted the USCA Presidential office and began to preside over Congress on July 10th, 1781, four months before John Hanson was elected to the USCA Presidency.
USCA Journals 1781 printing open to the July 9 & 10th, 1781 entries recording the elections of Samuel Johnston and Thomas McKean as Presidents of the United States in Congress Assembled four months before John Hanson's Presidency. - Image courtesy of the Historic.us Collection.
President Thomas McKean, like Samuel Huntington, executed numerous resolutions, proclamations, and letters as the second USCA President to serve under the Articles of Confederation. Below is the image of the September 7th, 1781, Journals entry recording a Thomas McKean resolution signature as USCA President.
Sir: I must beg you to remind Congress, that when they did me the honor of electing me President, and before I assumed the Chair, I informed them, that as Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, I should be under the necessity of attending the Supreme Court of that State, the latter end of September, or at farthest in October. That court will be held today; I must therefore request, that they will be pleased to proceed to the choice of another President.
I am, sir, with much respect, your most obedient humble servant,
Thos. McKean.The United States in Congress Assembled resolved: "That the resignation of Mr. [Thomas] McKean is accepted. Ordered, That the election of a President be postponed until to-morrow." The following day Secretary Charles Thomson presented Commander-in-Chief George Washington's letter to Congress, "giving information of the reduction of the British army under the command of the Earl of Cornwallis, on the 19th instant with a copy of the articles of capitulation."
An elated USCA resolved, among other resolutions, that:
Unanimously, That Mr. [Thomas] McKean be requested to resume the chair, and act as President till the first Monday in November next; the resolution of yesterday notwithstanding.
That it be an instruction to the said committee, to report what in their opinion, will be the most proper mode of communicating the thanks of the United States in Congress Assembled, to General Washington, Count de Rochambeau and Count de Grasse, for their effectual exertions in accomplishing this illustrious work; and of paying respect to the merit of Lieutenant Colonel Tilghman, aid-de-camp of General Washington, and the bearer of his despatches announcing this happy event"
October 24th, 1781 Journals of the United States in Congress Assembled concerning. President Thomas McKean's letter of resignation, News of Yorktown, and United States in Congress Assembled resolutions of thanks -The Journals of Congress and the United States in Congress Assembled, For the Year 1781, Published By Order of Congress, Volume VII New York: Printed by John Patterson - Image Courtesy of Historic.us
The war, effectively, ended with the Yorktown victory and Delaware Delegate Thomas McKean agreed to remain President, while serving as Pennsylvania's Chief Justice, until the second United States in Congress Assembled convened on the "first Monday of November" as prescribed in the Articles of Confederation.
On Saturday, November 3rd, 1781, the first USCA held its last session resolving “that the several matters now before Congress be referred over, and recommended to the attention of the United States in Congress Assembled, to meet at this place on Monday next.” Two days later, on November 5th, at the convening of the second USCA under the Articles of Confederation, the credentials of the Delegates were entered into the record and a President was elected. The Journals of Congress report:
Their credentials being read, Congress proceeded to the election of a President; and the ballots being taken, the honorable John Hanson was elected.[27]
November 5, 1781 - Journals of the United States in Congress Assembled - "Congress proceeded to the election of President; and the ballots being taken, The honorable, John Hanson elected" - The Journals of Congress and the United States in Congress Assembled, For the Year 1781, Published By Order of Congress, Volume VII New York: Printed by John Patterson. - Image courtesy of the Historic.us Collection
This entry in the Journals of Congress recording that the Delegates presented their credentials and were duly elected after the Articles of Confederation were enacted is what the Hansonites primarily hang their hat on declaring that "John Hanson was the First President of the United States." The John Hanson Memorial Association (JHMA) goes even further naming Presidents Samuel Huntington and Thomas McKean's USCA "an interim Congress of the Confederation." On JHMA's John Hanson timeline they write:
The specious claims made in this brief JHMA published timeline are numerous. Most of this and other John Hanson First US President myths can be debunked by refuting the following Hansonite claim:
Myth Part One: "The ratified Articles of Confederation required that the first USCA could only form on the first Monday of November 1781."
The Articles of Confederation says nothing about when the first USCA must form. What Article IX, in the Articles of Confederation does state is:
"On March 2, 1781, the Second Continental Congress is succeeded by the interim Congress of the Confederation with scant powers with the same delegates and officers as from the Second Continental Congress." On November 4th the Confederation goes out of existence to be replaced by the United States in Congress Assembled ... November 5, 1781, the United States in Congress Assembled, the nation's first government, springs into being ... as its first act, the new United States in Congress Assembled unanimously elects John Hanson of Frederick, Maryland, to a one year term as the nation's first president. Hanson becomes first president under any form of the United States government elected to a stated fixed term. President Hanson becomes first in the nation's history to be recognized at home or abroad as head of state."
JMHA's John Hanson Timeline from March 1 - November 5, 1781
The specious claims made in this brief JHMA published timeline are numerous. Most of this and other John Hanson First US President myths can be debunked by refuting the following Hansonite claim:
The United States in Congress Assembled did not commence its first session until a congress of delegates, duly elected after the March 1st 1781, enactment of the Articles of Confederation, formed on the first Monday of November 1781.It is prudent to address this claim in its two parts.
Myth Part One: "The ratified Articles of Confederation required that the first USCA could only form on the first Monday of November 1781."
The Articles of Confederation says nothing about when the first USCA must form. What Article IX, in the Articles of Confederation does state is:
V. For the most convenient management of the general interests of the United States, delegates shall be annually appointed in such manner as the legislatures of each State shall direct, to meet in Congress on the first Monday in November, in every year, with a power reserved to each State to recall its delegates, or any of them, at any time within the year, and to send others in their stead for the remainder of the year.This does not mean, however, that the only time the first or a new United States in Congress Assembled could initially convene was on the first Monday in November. If we examine the USCA Congressional start dates in its nine sessions, the Journals of Congress record only three sessions convening on the "First Monday in November." Five sessions convened after the "First Monday in November" to conduct the nation's business. The 9th Session failed, after several attempts, to convene at all.
The first USCA was one of the five sessions that convened late because the Articles of Confederation was not ratified in time to begin its 1780-1781 session on the First Monday in November." Here is the list of the Eight USCA Sessions, dates and Presidents:
USCA Sessions 1781 to 1789
- First USCA 1780-1781, convened March 2, 1781 - Samuel Huntington and Thomas McKean Presidents*
- Second USCA 1781-1782, convened November 5, 1781 - John Hanson President
- Third USCA 1782-1783, convened November 4, 1782 - Elias Boudinot President
- Fourth USCA 1783-1784, convened November 3, 1783 - Thomas Mifflin President
- Fifth USCA 1784-1785, convened November 29, 1784 - Richard Henry Lee President
- Sixth USCA 1785-1786, convened November 23, 1785 -John Hancock and Nathaniel Gorham Presidents
- Seventh USCA 1786-1787, convened February 2, 1787 - Arthur St. Clair President
- Eighth USCA 1787-1788, convened January 21, 1788 - Cyrus Griffin President
- Ninth USCA 1788-1789, failed to convene after several attempts
*Samuel Johnston was also elected to the First USCA Presidency but the following day declined the office.
So, the fact that the 1780-1781 were implemented by the U.S. Continental Congress on March 1, 1781 and not the first Monday in November, doesn't make it any less of a USCA Congress than the 1786-1787 USCA, which convened for the first time on February 2, 1787 or the first bicameral congress, which attempted to convene on March 4th, 1789. Just as it was the duty of the 1787-1788 USCA to enact legislation to begin the current US Constitution's federal government (March 4, 1789) after its required states' ratification (ratified June 21, 1788), so was it the responsibility of the U.S. Continental Congress to enact legislation to begin the Articles of Confederation (ratified February 2, 1781) government (March 1, 1781). It is, therefore, nonsensical to maintain that the Articles of Confederation required the U.S. Continental Congress to commence the USCA government on November 5th, 1781.
Myth Part Two: The Articles of Confederation required that delegates forming the first USCA must be appointed by their respective states, after its March 1st, 1781, enactment.
This condition is found nowhere in the Articles of Confederation. For the sake of expediency, however, if we were to accept this assertion as true, then the USCA 1781-1782 Congress nevertheless failed to meet this Hansonite test.
The facts in the Journals of Congress record that the State of Delaware's credentials presented on November 5, 1781, to the USCA 1781-1782 Congress were outdated because its delegates were duly appointed on February 10, 1781, or 18 days before the March 1st, 1781, enactment of the Articles of Confederation. The November 5, 1781, date in the Journals of Congress records Delaware's credentials being presented as such:
In the general assembly of the Delaware State, at New Castle, Saturday, A.M. February 10, 1781. The Council and House of Assembly, having met in the State-House, agreeable to the Order of the Day, proceeded, by joint Ballot, to the Election of Delegates to represent this State in the Congress of the United States of America, for the ensuing year, and the Box containing the Ballots being examined, The Honorable Thomas Rodney, Thomas McKean and Nicholas Vandyke, Esquires, are declared duly elected. Extract from the Minutes, James Booth Clerk of AssemblyIronically, even the Maryland Delegation failed the Hansonite test because its delegate appointments occurred on February 3rd, 1781, 25 days before the Articles of Confederation enactment. This means that John Hanson was not appointed as a duly "enacted" Articles of Confederation Delegate. The November 5th, 1781, Journals of Congress record Maryland's credentials being presented as such:
Maryland, Annapolis 3 Feb. 1781. We hereby certify that John Hanson, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Daniel Carroll and Richard Potts Esquires are elected Delegates to represent this State in Congress for the Year One thousand seven hundred and Eighty one. -James Maccubbin, Clerk,In the event that the Hansonites, including the Legislature of Maryland, have changed their position maintaining that the constitution requires a USCA formed by duly elected delegates after February 2, 1781 (the date that Maryland completed the unanimous Articles of Confederation ratification), please consider these two credential facts:
- The November 5, 1781, Journals of Congress record that the State Of Pennsylvania's Delegate credentials were issued "In the General Assembly, Thursday 23rd. November 1780."
- The November 5, 1781, Journals of Congress record that the State Of New Hampshire's credentials were issued "In Council January 18th, 1781."
Therefore, two delegations that formed the November 5th, 1781, USCA were appointed before Maryland ratified the Articles of Confederation (February 2, 1781) and thus by Hansonite reasoning were not qualified to participate in the USCA 1781-1782 session and elect John Hanson, President.
This means, according to Hansonite logic, that John Hanson is also a JHMA proclaimed interim "Congress of the Confederation" President. Why? Well, without including New Hampshire's and Pennsylvania's Delegates in congress, only Six States formed the USCA 1781-1782 Congress on November 5th, 1781. Since the Articles of Confederation required that at least seven states with two or more delegates be in attendance to convene, one must conclude that the election of John Hanson, like Samuel Huntington and Thomas McKean, was a JHMA proclaimed "Congress of the Confederation" Presidency. This Hansonite Catch 22 (it rules out Samuel Huntington, Thomas McKean, and John Hanson as USCA Presidents) is very entertaining but in the end nonsense.
The truth is that all the delegates of March 2nd, and November 5th, 1781, were credentialed after their respective states ratified the Articles of Confederation. Therefore, Presidents Samuel Huntington, Thomas McKean, and John Hanson were all USCA Presidents presiding over delegates appointed only after their respective states ratified the Articles of Confederation.
Other JMHA John Hanson assertions:
There are numerous claims on the JHMA's John Hanson's timeline to refute but I will only address the one that is not blatantly specious but, nevertheless, incorrect:
Hanson becomes first president under any form of the United States government elected to a stated fixed term.Although presidents were limited to one year of service in the USCA, such service could span between two different sessions as long as the President's service did not exceed 365 days. Specifically, Article IX states of the presidency that the USCA has the power:
to appoint one of their members to preside, provided that no person be allowed to serve in the office of president more than one year in any term of three years.There was thus no "stated fixed term" for USCA President as opposed to U.S. Presidency under the Constitution of 1787. A prime example of this flexibility was the presidency of Cyrus Griffin, elected president by the 8th USCA Congress on January 21st, 1788. The 9th USCA Congress failed to form on the "First Monday in November" in 1788, and since he had not served 365 days, Griffin continued in the office as President. In fact, the 9th USCA Congress never mustered enough delegates even after Griffin's constitutional office expired on the 366th day, January 21st, 1789. Despite this, at George Washington's inauguration, Congress agreed:
That seats be provided in the Senate-Chamber sufficient to accommodate the late President of the United States in Congress Assembled [Cyrus Griffin], the Governor of the Western territory [Arthur St Clair], the five persons being the heads of the three great departments [Secretary of Foreign Affairs John Jay, Secretary of War Henry Knox, Commissioners of the Treasury Arthur Lee, Walter Livingston, and Samuel Osgood].... [23]Now moving back to citing evidence that Thomas McKean's served as the second USCA President, please review the John Hanson presidential letter, dated November 10th, 1781, issuing the “official thanks” [18] of the USCA to Thomas McKean for his presidential service:
It is always a pleasing task to pay a just tribute to distinguished Merit. Under this impression give me leave to assure you, that it is with inexpressible satisfaction that I present you the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, in testimony of their approbation of your conduct in the Chair and in the execution of public business; a duty I am directed to perform by their Act of the 7th instant, a copy of which I have the honor of enclosing.When I reflect upon the great abilities, the exemplary patience and unequalled skill and punctuality, which you so eminently displayed in executing the important duties of a President, it must unavoidably be productive of great apprehensions in the one who has the honor of being your Successor. But the Choice of Congress obliges me for a moment to be silent on the subject of my own inability: And altho' I cannot equal the bright example that is recently set me, yet it shall be my unremitting study to imitate it as far as possible; and in doing this the reflection is pleasing that I shall invariably pursue the sacred path of Virtue, which alone ought to preserve me free from censure. [19]
John Hanson autographed letter signed as President, dated November 10th, 1781, issuing the “official thanks” of the USCA to Thomas McKean for his service as President of the United States in Congress Assembled, page 2. - Image taken by Stan Klos at Library of Congress, 2001
John Hanson autographed letter signed as President, dated November 10th, 1781, issuing the “official thanks” of the USCA to Thomas McKean for his service as President of the United States in Congress Assembled, page 2. - Image taken by Stan Klos at Library of Congress, 2001
Even John Hanson, the self-proclaimed "successor" of USCA President Thomas McKean knew that he was not the first President of the United States in Congress Assembled.
Conclusion:
The historical evidence adduced above clearly affirms that the Articles of Confederation government was enacted on March 1st, 1781, and not November 5th, 1781, as the Author Seymour Weiss, John Hanson Memorial Association, the current Maryland Legislature, and others maintain.
Samuel Huntington, not John Hanson, was the first USCA President under the Articles of Confederation. Thomas McKean, elected on July 10th, 1781, served as the second USCA President under the Articles of Confederation. John Hanson, duly elected on November 5th, 1781, served as the third USCA President under the Articles of Confederation.
What follows is the name of each President and the time technically served, even though the USCA was not in session, by each under the Articles of Confederation.
Articles of Confederation
Presidents of the United States in Congress Assembled
March 1, 1781 to March 3, 1789
March 1, 1781 to March 3, 1789
March 1, 1781 | July 6, 1781 | |
July 10, 1781 | Declined Office | |
July 10, 1781 | November 4, 1781 | |
November 5, 1781 | November 3, 1782 | |
November 4, 1782 | November 2, 1783 | |
November 3, 1783 | June 3, 1784 | |
November 30, 1784 | November 22, 1785 | |
November 23, 1785 | June 5, 1786 | |
June 6, 1786 | February 1, 1787 | |
February 2, 1787 | January 21, 1788 | |
January 22, 1788 | January 21, 1789 |
John Hanson was a Great American President?
The John Hanson Memorial Association and other "Hansonites" purport specious claims that go far beyond heralding John Hanson as the nation's first President. Claim's that "the American Revolution had two primary leaders: George Washington in the military sphere, and John Hanson in politics" is clearly bunk because Hanson assumed the office after the fall of General Cornwallis at Yorktown while Commander-in-Chief George Washington served under five War Presidents before John Hanson.
Sadly, the 21st Century myth spins by the John Hanson Memorial Association and others have found "creditable" storytellers in traditional media outlets, thus further confuting the Articles of Confederation and Continental Congress Presidencies. For example, The Frederick News-Post included in its article, "Remembering John Hanson: Onto the world stage," on February 26, 2012, almost verbatim specious passages from Hansonite leader Peter H. Michaels' book:
While all other presidents of the first government and those under the Constitution inherited a functioning government, Hanson and his cabinet had to fashion one anew from whole cloth.The content of this article is easily debunked simply by reviewing the Journals of the Continental Congress. President John Hanson and his "cabinet" did not have to fashion one [government] anew from whole cloth," nor did Hanson and the Second United States in Congress Assembled Delegates appoint politicians to the posts that birthed "today's Secretaries of State, Treasury and Defense."
Cabinet positions were created in the order of Foreign Affairs, Finance and War, today's Secretaries of State, Treasury and Defense, the hierarchy followed in modern protocol and presidential succession.
Weeks into Hanson's administration, the nation's first central bank, the Bank of North America, predecessor to today's Federal Reserve, began operation near Independence Hall.
Hanson's appointments of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Jay and Henry Laurens as the American team sent to Paris to negotiate peace with Britain were singularly instrumental in what has been reckoned "the greatest victory in the annals of American diplomacy," a negotiating triumph doubling the area of the United States.
With Hanson's sure-handed guidance and dazzling appointments, brilliant is not too strong a term describing his administration's foreign affairs performance. Few administrations since can claim diplomatic advances matching those of Hanson's presidency, all not in a four-year span of modern administrations but in a single year.
Here are the facts, which can easily be corroborated by checking the Library of Congress online Journals of Congress.
- Foreign Affairs - On January 10, 1781, the US Continental Congress created the Department of Foreign Affairs. Samuel Huntington, not John Hanson, was the President. On August 10th, 1781, the USCA elected the first Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Robert R. Livingston. Thomas McKean, not John Hanson, was President.
- Finance - On February 7th, 1781, the office of Superintendent of Finance was created by the US Continental Congress and in a unanimous vote, Congress appointed Robert Morris, on February 10th 1781, to be the first and only Superintendent. Samuel Huntington, not John Hanson, was the President.
- War - On October 30th, 1781 the USCA elected Benjamin Lincoln the first Secretary of War. Thomas McKean, not John Hanson, was President.
- Treasury - The office of Secretary of the Treasury did not exist in the Colonial Continental Congress, U.S. Continental Congress, or in the United States in Congress Assembled governments. The office of Treasurer, however, did exist in the early republics. On July 29th, 1775, the U.S. Continental Congress resolved, "That Michael Hillegas, and George Clymer, Esqrs. be, and they are hereby appointed, joint treasurers of the United Colonies." John Hancock was President. On May 14th, 1777, the U.S. Continental Congress enacted a resolution, in an attempt to improve United States Lottery sales and build confidence in the federal notes, that named Michael Hillegas as the sole Treasurer of the United States. John Hancock was President. On September 1st, 1781, the USCA reformulated the U.S. Treasury and on the 19th elected Michael Hillegas as the first U.S. Treasurer under the Articles of Confederation. Thomas McKean, not John Hanson, was President. On September 2nd, 1789, An Act to Establish the Treasury Department was passed under the U.S. Constitution of 1787. Michael Hillegas continued to serve as U.S. Treasurer after its passage until September 11th, 1789, when Samuel Meredith became the first Treasurer appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. George Washington was President.
- The Office of Secretary of State did not exist in the U.S. Continental Congress or the United States in Congress Assembled governments. The position of Secretary of the Continental Congress and the United States in Congress Assembled, however, was created by the Colonial Continental Congress on September 5th, 1774, and Charles Thomson was appointed Secretary. Peyton Randolph was the President. Secretary Charles Thomson would serve as this Secretary through the three founding republics until March 3, 1789. On September 15th, 1789 “An Act to provide for the safe keeping of the Acts, Records and Seal of the United States, and for other purposes” became law with President George Washington’s approval. This law changed the name of the Department of Foreign Affairs to the Department of State and created the position of United States Secretary of State. George Washington was President.
Not one of these offices or officer appointments mentioned in the Frederick News-Post article were formed under the John Hanson Presidency. It is, however, true that "Weeks into Hanson's administration, the nation's first central bank, the Bank of North America, predecessor to today's Federal Reserve, began operation near Independence Hall." This Frederick News-Post claim, however, is also misleading because the Bank of North America was first chartered by the United States in Congress Assembled on May 26, 1781. Samuel Huntington, not John Hanson, was President.
Resolved that Congress do approve the plan for establishing a national bank in these United States, Submitted to their consideration by Mr. R. Morris the 17th May 1781... So it was Resolved in the Affirmative. The Journals of Congress and the United States in Congress Assembled, For the Year 1781, Published By Order of Congress, Volume VII New York: Printed by John Patterson. - Image courtesy of the Historic.us Collection
As for the claim, "Hanson's appointments of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Jay and Henry Laurens as the American team sent to Paris to negotiate peace with Britain," -- this is also incorrect. On September 27th, 1779, John Adams was sent overseas to negotiate a Peace treaty with Great Britain. John Hanson was a member of the Maryland State Assembly. On June 13th and 14th, 1781, the USCA officially elected Benjamin Franklin (Minister Plenipotentiary to France), John Jay (Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain), Henry Laurens (imprisoned in the Tower of London), and Thomas Jefferson (Governor of Virginia) to negotiate peace with Great Britain. Samuel Huntington, not John Hanson, was President.
In reality, as a USCA Maryland Delegate before his presidency, John Hanson was a strong supporter of stripping what little power the presidency had in the first USCA session, by legislating it to department executives and committees. Hanson believed the nation should be primarily governed by the Committee of the States, which was defined in the Articles of Confederation in Article IX:
The United States in Congress assembled shall have authority to appoint a committee, to sit in the recess of Congress, to be denominated 'A Committee of the States', and to consist of one delegate from each State; and to appoint such other committees and civil officers as may be necessary for managing the general affairs of the United States under their direction.By the time President John Hanson took office in November 1781, he and his fellow delegates had neutered the Presidency by empowering committees, new departments, and enacting USCA operating rules. Additionally, the Articles of Confederation required a minimum of two delegates from each state to form a quorum count of at least nine States to pass “major” legislation as prescribed in Article IX:
The United States in Congress assembled shall never engage in a war, nor grant letters of marquee or reprisal in time of peace, nor enter into any treaties or alliances, nor coin money, nor regulate the value thereof, nor ascertain the sums and expenses necessary for the defense and welfare of the United States, or any of them, nor emit bills, nor borrow money on the credit of the United States, nor appropriate money, nor agree upon the number of vessels of war, to be built or purchased, or the number of land or sea forces to be raised, nor appoint a commander in chief of the army or navy, unless nine States assent to the same: nor shall a question on any other point, except for adjourning from day to day be determined, unless by the votes of the majority of the United States in Congress assembled.This relegated the President to the duties of a passive chair (no agenda powers) as one of 18 Delegates (Nine States, two delegate minimum), at best, in deciding important matters of State. This new USCA Presidency was very weak in comparison to the Continental Congress Presidents, who controlled the agenda as well as the mail (they read it first and decided what was to be brought before Congress) and were empowered to convene Congress with only one delegate present from only seven States. A Continental Congress President, after deciding what matters came before his congress, was empowered to vote on crucial legislation during the Revolutionary War as one Delegate representing his state with only six other states present (minimum quorum number was seven states with one delegate each). The USCA Presidents wielded no such powers, after the enactment of the rules, under the ratified Articles of Confederation.
Conclusion:
John Hanson wanted no part of a potent Presidency and even shunned the duties of presidential correspondence. When the volume of Continental Congress and USCA presidential correspondence is reviewed statistically, researchers have found it had crested at slightly over 50 letters per month during the Presidency of Henry Laurens, remained relatively constant at about 40 letters per month during the terms of John Jay and Samuel Huntington, and dropped off to about 30 letters per month with President Thomas McKean. President John Hanson, who was up next, chafed at even this modest level of letter-writing presidential responsibility.[21] On January 28, 1782, President Hanson championed and secured the adoption of a congressional resolution transferring to USCA Secretary Charles Thomson the primary responsibility for communicating USCA legislation,
"In order that the President may be relieved from the business with which he is unnecessarily incumbered." Journals of the USCA – 01-28-1782Accordingly, the flow of Hanson Presidential letters immediately slowed to a trickle.
John Hanson wrote only 36 presidential letters during his first three months as president, and only 18 survive from his last nine months in office; they are distributed as follows: February-1, March-6, April-0, May-1, June-3, July-2, August-2, September-I, and October-2. The flow of the presidential correspondence was of course always conditioned by external events, but Hanson's personal responsibility for the dramatic reduction that took place in 1782 seems clear from the fact that his successor, Elias Boudinot, wrote over 140 presidential letters the following congressional year, and in 1783-84 President Thomas Mifflin wrote over 60 during the six months that Congress was actually in session during his presidency.[22]
John Hanson was at best a Laissez-faire President. The current Maryland State Legislature, John Hanson Memorial Association, State of Maryland, and other Hansonite proponents, have failed to do their research. Consequently, they are doing the nation a great harm by purporting these and other John Hanson myths that greatly confuse a trusting public.
John Hanson was the first Black U.S. President.
The Hanson family First President Myth has recently spawned a claim that is especially damaging to the historical record because it is racially tainted and, in complete disrespect for the accomplishment of the Honorable Barack H. Obama rising to the office of United States President in 2009. This Hansonite Myth maintains that an 18th Century white slaveholder and hemp farmer, none other than John Hanson, rose to be the first black President of the United States of America.
Background:
In 2007 Cyril Innis Jr. published a John Hanson first president paper [1] that included an 1865 Library of Congress picture of a black man also named John Hanson.
John Hanson photo from Mr. Innis Article [2]
Innis also included, in his paper, a verso image of the $2.00 bill with Declaration of Independence signer George Walton circled and ambiguously labeled as John Hanson, the “dark skinned man.”
The Back of the $2.00 Bill with Innis’
circling of the “Black Moor John Hanson” [3]
This article exploded onto the internet scene populating numerous websites, while quickly becoming prolific with the help of Black Moor John Hanson videos. A week does not go by without someone calling or emailing us, purporting that John Hanson was indeed the first Black United States President.
Rebuttal:
Rebuttal:
John Hanson was elected to the U.S. Continental Congress in 1779 but did not take his seat until 1780. He, therefore, was not present on August 2, 1776, when the delegates assembled at Independence Hall to sign the engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence. Additionally, George Walton of Georgia -- the Declaration of Independence signer that Mr. Innis circles as the Moor John Hanson -- was a slave owner and not black. Moreover John Hanson's letters as President are filled with slave-owner content. For example, in February of 1782, he wrote home to his family regarding his business affairs that included, sadly, the sale of slaves:
I have not the least inclination to purchase Mr. Bowles's Hand. Sally I am persuaded will be very easy without him-if she wants to be sold I have no objection to let Mr. Bowles have her, at £100 (not less). Bond on Interest for the money will do. I observe Mr. Lee, Mr. Addison, and J Hanson, have advertised their Negroes for Sale. I was surprised at it. I did not know the motive, and wish their plan may Succeed.[4]
Furthermore, after Hanson’s death in 1783 his will listed, among other possessions, 11 slaves as his personal property.[5]
Finally, camera photography of any sort, let alone a 19th Century Copper adorned daguerreotype was not invented in President Hanson’s lifetime which ended, according to the Maryland State Archivist, on November 15, 1783. Any photograph, therefore, of the former President in his lifetime is a physical impossibility.
The picture of the black man depicted by Innis is actually a daguerreotype[6] of Liberian Senator John Hanson from Grand Bassa County who, in the 19th Century, championed the relocation of slaves to Liberia.
Conclusion:
As a final proof that President John Hanson was a slave holder and not a Black Moor, the images of his Last Will and Testament are published below along with its transcription:
In the name of God Amen. I, John Hanson of Frederick Town in Frederick County being in Good Health but considering the uncertainty of Human Life do make and ordain this my last will and Testiment as follows Vizt.
I give and Bequeath to my son Alexander Contee Hanson one Negro Woman Named Sal and her son Charles Roger and her Daughter Named Nan, one Negro man named John and one Negro man Commonly Called Ned Barnes two feather Beds Such as my Wife may Choose to Part with one Silver Pint Cup Six Silver Table Spoons Six Silver Tea Spoons and one pair of Silver Tea Tongs to him and his heirs forever.
The Lots or portions of Ground remaining unsold of the ground I purchased of Benjamin Delaney Esq. Adjoining to Frederick Town I desire may be sold by my Ex. Hereafter named and the Money Arising from Such Sale be paid one third thereof to Richard Potts one third to Doctor Philip Thomas and the remaining third may be Divided Between my wife and Son Alexander
I Give and bequeath to my Grand Daughter Catherine Thomas one Negro Boy (nan’s son) named Bill to her and her heirs forever.
I Give and Bequeath to my Grand Daughter Rebecca Thomas one Negro Girl Named Charity (Moll’s Child) to her and her heirs forever.
I give and Bequeath to my Grand Son John Hanson Thomas one Negro Boy named Bob and the Child my Negro Nan is now big with one feather Bed and Twenty Pounds in Current Money to him and his heirs forever.
I Give and Bequeath to my Beloved Wife Jane Hanson my Lots and Houses in Frederick Town and which I purchased of a certain Adam Koon for and during her Natural life and after her Decease I Give the said Lots and Houses to my son Alexander and his heirs forever the remaining part of my personal Estate not herein before Divided
I Also Give and Bequeath to my said Wife forever.
My will is that Debts which may be Justly due and owing from me at the time of my Death my be paid and satisfied out of the Debts that may be due and owing to me and if those Debts or what may be Collected be not Sufficient to discharge what I owe then my will is that the Deficiency be paid and Satisfied out of the Legacies given to my Son Alexander and out of the Residuary part of my Personal Estate to my Wife in due proportion according to the Value of the Personal estate hereby bequeathed to each of them.
I give and Bequeath to my much esteemed Son in Law Doct. Philip Thomas one Mourning Ring
Lastly I Constitute and Ordain my Wife Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament And I desire my Estate may not be Appraised or any Inventory thereof returned unless she shall Choose to Appraise and Inventory the same And I do hereby revoke all former Wills by me made and in Testimony Whereof I have in the presence of the Witnessed Subscribing Signed Published and Declared this to be my last will and affix my seal to the same this 20th day of September 1781
Signed Sealed Published and
John Hanson jr (seal)
Declared in the Presence of us (signature)John Nelson, Jeffery Magruder, Rich Butler
Frederick County April 13th 1784 Then came Jane Hanson and made Oath that the a foregoing Instrument of writing is the True and Whole Will and Testiment of John Hanson late of Frederick County Deceased that hath Come to her hands in Posession and that she Doth not know of any other - Geo. Murdock Regt.
Frederick County April 13th 1784 Then came Richard Butler one of the Subscribing Witnesses to the aforegoing Last Will and Testament of John Hanson late of Frederick County Deceased and made Oath the Holy evangelists
Myth IV
The Swedish John Hanson
In 1876 a George A. Hanson wrote an article entitled "Old Kent: The Eastern Shore of Md." George Hanson, who most likely caught up over the U.S. Centennial celebration (1776-1876), created the hoax story that the immigrant John Hanson was one of four brothers who came to New Sweden in the care of its Governor, Johan Björnsson Printz, in 1642.
The four brothers' father, who had married Swedish royalty, had died in the Battle of Lutzen, fighting next to Gustavus Adolphus. Thus the Hanson family, including the president, were not only of Swedish decent but had royal blood flowing through their veins!
Every part of the story was a hoax, which has been printed, subsequently, by numerous publications over the last 136 years.
John Hanson was of English ancestry and his grandfather, also named John, was transported to Maryland as an indentured servant by William Plumley of Barbados. Grandfather John was sold in the winter of 1661-1662 to Edward Keene of Calvert County, Maryland.
From there, the Maryland State Archives report Hanson’s family as such:
Hanson, John, Jr. (1721-1783). BORN: on April 3, 1721, in Port Tobacco Parish, Charles County; third surviving son. NATIVE: at least third generation. FATHER: Samuel Hanson (ca. 1685-1740). MOTHER: Elizabeth (ca. 1688-1764), daughter of Walter Storey (ca. 1666-1726). UNCLE: Robert Hanson (ca.1680-1748). BROTHERS: Walter Hanson (1711 / 12-1794); Samuel Hanson (1716-1794); William (1718/19-1721); and William (1726-?). SISTERS: Elizabeth (1707-?); Mary (1709/10-?); Sarah (1714-?); Jane (1721/22-?); Charity (1724-?), who married second, Arthur Lee (?-1760); and Chloe.[20]
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[1] Cyril Innis, Jr., A Black Man, A Moor, John Hanson, 2007, http://www.itsabouttimebpp.com/ Announcements/pdf/Cyril_Innis_Jr.pdf,
[2] John Hanson, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C., The form of photography known as “daguerreotype” was introduced in France in 1839. A sixth-plate daguerreotype measures 2 ¾” by 3 ¼”.
[3] Opt Cit
[4] John Hanson to Phillip Thomas, February 23, 1782, LDC 1774-1789
[5] Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al., A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789, John Hanson, Jr. Maryland State Archives, page 406.
[6] John Hanson, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C., http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004664314/resource/
[7] See for example, Herbert J. Stoeckel, “The Strange Story of John Hanson, First President of the United States.” A Guide to Oxon Hill Manor and Mulberry Grove in Maryland. Hartford, Conn.: Hanson House, 1932. Reprint 1956.
[8] See, for example, John W. Cavanaugh, “Our Two First Presidents, John Hanson and George Washington.” The Gold Book of United States History, Full of Gold Nuggets. New York: N.p., and Amandus Johnson, , John Hanson: First President of the United States Under the Articles of Confederation. Philadelphia: Swedish Colonial Society, 1966.
[9] “John Hanson 1715-1783.” Bibliography Directory of the United States Congress, , Extended Bibliography, bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/bibdisplay.pl?index=H000177
[10] Smithsonian Institute, The American Presidency – "John Hanson mug - John Hanson served as the first president of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation from 1781 to 1782. The Congress elected a president annually from among its members, but the position bore no relationship to the presidency established under the Constitution. When Hanson became the first president of the new independent nation, it was more an honorary position than a powerful office" http://americanhistory.si.edu/presidency/2a1a.html 2008.
[11] John Hanson President of the Continental Congress. The National Postal Museum, United States Post Office, 2008. - http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1 &mode=2&tid=2039383
[12] On my 2011 tour of the Maryland State House, the guide referred to John Hanson as the third President of the USCA.
[13] This claim put forth by the Smithsonian was challenged but the Smithsonian never responded or changed the exhibit.
[14] Photograph of the Smithsonian's traveling exhibit "A Glorious Burden, The American Presidency,” at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh. Stanley L. Klos, February 2004.
[15] Daniel Carroll to Charles Carroll of Carrolton, February 20, 1781, LDC 1774-1789
[16] March 2, 1781, JCC 1774-1789
[17] JCC, 1774-1789, July 10, 1781: Mr. Johnston having declined to accept the office of president, and offered such reasons as were satisfactory, the house proceeded to another election and the ballots being taken, the Honorable Thomas McKean was elected.
[18] LDC, 1774-1789, John Hanson to Thomas McKean 10th Nov. 1781
[19] John Hanson to Thomas McKean, November 10, 1781, LDC 1774-1789
[20] Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al., A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789, John Hanson, Jr. Maryland State Archives, page 406
[21] LDC, 1774-1789, LDC Editor notes to the letter of John Hanson to Thomas McKean 10th Nov. 1781
[22] LDC, 1774-1789, LDC Editor notes to the letter of John Hanson to Thomas McKean 10th Nov. 1781
[23] Broadside Announcing Ceremonial for Washington's Inauguration, 29 April 1789 - Library of Congress Collection
[21] LDC, 1774-1789, LDC Editor notes to the letter of John Hanson to Thomas McKean 10th Nov. 1781
[22] LDC, 1774-1789, LDC Editor notes to the letter of John Hanson to Thomas McKean 10th Nov. 1781
[23] Broadside Announcing Ceremonial for Washington's Inauguration, 29 April 1789 - Library of Congress Collection
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