A Simple Question

[technodragon73]

But the first question was not "under the constitution", but simply who was the first president!

[IchBin]

My point was, that I didn't really consider us a nation until the constitution. Hence, the George Washington comment.

[technodragon73]

Ahh, I realized that...but we were a nation before the constitution (albeit a very disorganized one).

[anunlike]

Ahh, I realized that...but we were a nation before the constitution (albeit a very disorganized one).

Ah, see, there's the problem. They weren't the "'United' States of America", yet. They were just the "States of America".

[technodragon73]

true, but even they had a president

[anunlike]

At any rate, I'm being lighthearted about it.

Hmm... It seems the question wasn't so simple, after all.

[technodragon73]

At any rate, I'm being lighthearted about it.

Hmm... It seems the question wasn't so simple, after all.

ROFL, it was, but even the simplest question can lead to the most heated of debates!

[anunlike]

Ha ha.

So true.

[TwinsX2Dad]

Hold the phone!

It was NOT the 'States of America.'

The 1st Presidency of the United States was held on March 2, 1781 during an official ceremony in Philadelphia. This 1st U.S. Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, was unanimously ratified by all 13 States on March 1, 1781 creating "The Perpetual Union of the United States of America." At that moment the Continental Congress ceased to exist and the United States of America in Congress Assembled assumed all federal power under the new U.S. Constitution.

So many people acknowledge that the United States began in 1776 - on July 4th, to be precise. The bicentennial celebrations were held in 1976 and it is widely accepted that the United States will be 230 years old this year - far longer than any other government ideal in existence.

George Washington didn't become President until 1789 - so what happened in the intervening 13 years?

Does it matter now? Probably not - Lincoln's Presidency is the one which sent this country into a Federalist state and arguably ruined the pure freedoms this country was founded on. But it is fun to talk about, especially among those who hold to the teachings given in the public schools.

[technodragon73]

Hold the phone!

It was NOT the 'States of America.'

The 1st Presidency of the United States was held on March 2, 1781 during an official ceremony in Philadelphia. This 1st U.S. Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, was unanimously ratified by all 13 States on March 1, 1781 creating "The Perpetual Union of the United States of America." At that moment the Continental Congress ceased to exist and the United States of America in Congress Assembled assumed all federal power under the new U.S. Constitution.

So many people acknowledge that the United States began in 1776 - on July 4th, to be precise. The bicentennial celebrations were held in 1976 and it is widely accepted that the United States will be 230 years old this year - far longer than any other government ideal in existence.

George Washington didn't become President until 1789 - so what happened in the intervening 13 years?

Does it matter now? Probably not - Lincoln's Presidency is the one which sent this country into a Federalist state and arguably ruined the pure freedoms this country was founded on. But it is fun to talk about, especially among those who hold to the teachings given in the public schools.

Ya, but the public (goverment) schools, always refer to George Washington as the "First" president...so obviously it is not those teachings that you are referring to?