Eat that mrs.gates!!! (my social studies teacher)

[Shikamaru Nara]

Here I have a well formulated hypothesis stating that George Washington was not the first President!!! Feel free to debate and share your opinions.


Washington was the first president of the United States under the Constitution of 1789... but the United States declared its independence 13 years before that. In 1777, the Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, which were ratified by the states in 1781. Later that year, this new legislative body convened and elected John Hanson "President of the United States in Congress Assembled." Hanson had been a member of the Maryland assembly and the Continental Congress, where he played a key role in convincing Maryland to adopt the Articles of Confederation (Maryland was the only state opposed.) Washington sent Hanson a letter of congratulations on his "appointment to fill the most important seat in the United States."
There were seven other Presidents who served under the Articles of Confederation, now forgotten by all except the most trivial of historians.
In May of 1787, a convention met in Philadelphia with the task of amending the Articles of Confederation; the Articles had proved unworkable. Instead of mere amendment, the convention exceeded its authority by drafting up a whole new document, the Constitution. In March of 1789, Washington was elected first President; John Adams, with the second highest number of votes, became Vice President.
With good justification, we tend to view that the country really "started" under the Constitution and the subsequent Bill of Rights, so we start counting from Washington.

In other words, yes he was the first President of the United States Constitution of 1789....but NOT THE FIRST PRESIDENT IN GENERAL!!! (In total, he was the 15th president)

[Shikamaru Nara]

Anybody up for a debate? I need a challenge!

[Madra]

the united states government branches were not established until after the constitution was written therefore all the "presidents" before that are not considered presidents so Washington was the first president

[Shikamaru Nara]

Theoretically speaking, he wasn't.

[toad]

can i please see your sources b4 i debate?

[Shikamaru Nara]

Originally Posted by toad

can i please see your sources b4 i debate?

I made this theory by myself, thank you very much.

[toad]

well..... then u dont have a good arguement on ur hands... if u had sources then u would dude

[Shikamaru Nara]

Social Studies is my proof.

[oceangirl_ninja]

Originally Posted by toad

well..... then u dont have a good arguement on ur hands... if u had sources then u would dude

that's true. do you have proof that these articles exist?
you need sources to prove a hypothesis

[Yuki M Namikazi Uzumaki]

Originally Posted by Shikamaru9

Here I have a well formulated hypothesis stating that George Washington was not the first President!!! Feel free to debate and share your opinions.


Washington was the first president of the United States under the Constitution of 1789... but the United States declared its independence 13 years before that. In 1777, the Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, which were ratified by the states in 1781. Later that year, this new legislative body convened and elected John Hanson "President of the United States in Congress Assembled." Hanson had been a member of the Maryland assembly and the Continental Congress, where he played a key role in convincing Maryland to adopt the Articles of Confederation (Maryland was the only state opposed.) Washington sent Hanson a letter of congratulations on his "appointment to fill the most important seat in the United States."
There were seven other Presidents who served under the Articles of Confederation, now forgotten by all except the most trivial of historians.
In May of 1787, a convention met in Philadelphia with the task of amending the Articles of Confederation; the Articles had proved unworkable. Instead of mere amendment, the convention exceeded its authority by drafting up a whole new document, the Constitution. In March of 1789, Washington was elected first President; John Adams, with the second highest number of votes, became Vice President.
With good justification, we tend to view that the country really "started" under the Constitution and the subsequent Bill of Rights, so we start counting from Washington.

In other words, yes he was the first President of the United States Constitution of 1789....but NOT THE FIRST PRESIDENT IN GENERAL!!! (In total, he was the 15th president)

Originally Posted by toad

can i please see your sources b4 i debate?

Originally Posted by Shikamaru9

I made this theory by myself, thank you very much.

if you didn't look any of it up how do you know ANY of this -.-

[Shikamaru Nara]

Originally Posted by oceangirl_ninja

that's true. do you have proof that these articles exist?
you need sources to prove a hypothesis

Originally Posted by Yuki M Namikazi Uzumaki

if you didn't look any of it up how do you know ANY of this -.-

Logic is my proof. It says in the textbooks that he was the first US PRESIDENT, never once will you see "First President Ever." In those words.

[ItachiAnbu]

Originally Posted by Shikamaru9

Here I have a well formulated hypothesis stating that George Washington was not the first President!!! Feel free to debate and share your opinions.


Washington was the first president of the United States under the Constitution of 1789... but the United States declared its independence 13 years before that. In 1777, the Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, which were ratified by the states in 1781. Later that year, this new legislative body convened and elected John Hanson "President of the United States in Congress Assembled." Hanson had been a member of the Maryland assembly and the Continental Congress, where he played a key role in convincing Maryland to adopt the Articles of Confederation (Maryland was the only state opposed.) Washington sent Hanson a letter of congratulations on his "appointment to fill the most important seat in the United States."
There were seven other Presidents who served under the Articles of Confederation, now forgotten by all except the most trivial of historians.
In May of 1787, a convention met in Philadelphia with the task of amending the Articles of Confederation; the Articles had proved unworkable. Instead of mere amendment, the convention exceeded its authority by drafting up a whole new document, the Constitution. In March of 1789, Washington was elected first President; John Adams, with the second highest number of votes, became Vice President.
With good justification, we tend to view that the country really "started" under the Constitution and the subsequent Bill of Rights, so we start counting from Washington.

In other words, yes he was the first President of the United States Constitution of 1789....but NOT THE FIRST PRESIDENT IN GENERAL!!! (In total, he was the 15th president)

You're not incorrect, but it would also be correct to say that George Washington was the first president of the United States, because the position is different.

Hanson was the elected president of the United States under Congress, but that is just the Legislative branch. The current office of "President" is a part of the Executive branch. So, these are two different positions.

Originally, only Congress ran the government, and that position was valid. However, since that position no longer exists, and a new position replaced it (as well as because the new position took the old ones name) that position is no longer valid, and thusly those people cannot be considered (in modern terms) to be the former Presidents of the United States. Rather, they are now considered to be the former Presidents of Congress.

It really all comes down to a technicallity.

[ItachiAnbu]

Originally Posted by Shikamaru9

Logic is my proof. It says in the textbooks that he was the first US PRESIDENT, never once will you see "First President Ever." In those words.

Logic is reasoning. Evidence is proof. These are two different things, and are not to be confused.


Logic leads to reasoning (or rather it is reasoning), which is all part of the hypothesis. However, to prove it you need substantial, physical evidence. I believe that is what was asked for. You gave proof for a hypothesis, but a it isn't worth jack if you don't support your reasoning with something much harder.

[narutofan99]

You're right in a way, Shikamaru. But the thing is, the word president can be used in different terms. In this case, you're using it in two different ways. The president of the United states of america, and the president of Congress are different people. You and your teacher are right in different ways.

[ItachiAnbu]

Originally Posted by narutofan99

You're right in a way, Shikamaru. But the thing is, the word president can be used in different terms. In this case, you're using it in two different ways. The president of the United states of america, and the president of Congress are different people. You and your teacher are right in different ways.

A very neutral, yet acurate statement. This, I would consider to be true.

[Shikamaru Nara]

Originally Posted by narutofan99

You're right in a way, Shikamaru. But the thing is, the word president can be used in different terms. In this case, you're using it in two different ways. The president of the United states of america, and the president of Congress are different people. You and your teacher are right in different ways.

Well, I'm talking about the president in general, not a certain position a president could be in.

[[Shikamaru]]

Being President comes down to being the ruler of a nation.

Being elected by Congress, or by states is no different.

Whomever ran the United States of America during one time is considered the President. Being elected by Congress is no different then being elected from state representitives. The fact remains John Hanson was President before the other branches were created, just like Lincoln was elected president before slaves were considered American Citizens.

Your theory isn't a theory, it's fact.

Ask an African American if Washington was the first President. Based on the people who think Washington was the first, the person would say "Blacks weren't considered citizens until the 13th Admenment passed by Lincoln, so that's not my president".

[narutofan99]

Originally Posted by ItachiAnbu

A very neutral, yet acurate statement. This, I would consider to be true.

Thanks! But just remember, it's only my opinion.

[narutofan99]

Originally Posted by Shikamaru9

Well, I'm talking about the president in general, not a certain position a president could be in.

yeah, but Mrs. Gates is most probably not thinking that way. So it all depends on your personal train of thought.