The Journals of the Continental Congress and the United States, in Congress Assembled report that there were six Presidents of the Continental Congress and ten Presidents of the United States, in Congress Assembled before George Washington's Inauguration in 1789. Two of the Presidents, John Hancock and Samuel Huntington served in both offices bringing the total number of men holding the Pre-1787 Constitutional offices from 1774 1788 to fourteen. A fifteenth founder, Samuel Johnson of North Carolina was elected the 2nd President of the United States, in Congress Assembled but refused to accept the office. David Ramsay of South Carolina served as the Chairman of the United States for the absent President, John Hancock, from November 23, 1785 May 12, 1786. Upon Ramsay s resignation, Nathaniel Gorham took over the Chairmanship until John Hancock resigned.
Each Colony/State elected delegates to the Continental Congress and the United States, in Congress Assembled. From 1774 to 1788 the delegates elected fifteen Presidents with only one declining to serve.
Each State, regardless of population or the size of their delegation, had only one vote in both the Continental Congress and the United States, in Congress Assembled. Journals of The United States in Congress Assembled, October 16, 1781 Stan Klos Collection www.forgottenfounders.org
Articles of Association, passed October 20, 1774, named and organized the Continental Congress. Peyton Randolph, Henry Middleton and John Hancock served under the Colonial Articles of Association as Presidents of the Continental Congress of the United Colonies from September 5, 1774 to July 1, 1776. John Hancock, Henry Laurens, John Jay, and Samuel Huntington served as the Independent States Articles of Association as Presidents of Continental Congress of the United States from July 2, 1776 until March 1, 1781. Articles of Association, October 20, 1774 Library of Congress Broadside Collection
Peyton Randolph September 5, 1774 October 22, 1774 Henry Middleton October 22, 1774 October 26, 1774 Peyton Randolph May 20, 1775 May 24, 1775 John Hancock May 25, 1775 October 29, 1777 Henry Laurens November 1, 1777 December 9, 1778 John Jay December 10, 1778 September 28, 1779 Samuel Huntington September 29, 1779 March 1, 1781 Oath of Secrecy October 20, 1774 Stan Klos Collection www.forgotten Founders.org
The first federal constitution, the Articles of Confederation, was passed on November 15, 1777 but it required ratification by all thirteen states. Virginia was the first to ratify the Constitution of 1777 on December 16, 1777. Delaware, which claims to be the First State, ratified the Articles of Confederation on February 9, 1779. Maryland was the last state to ratify delaying its approval until March 1, 1781. On March 2, 1781 the Continental Congress was dissolved and the new constitutional government named the United States, in Congress Assembled convened. Delaware First to Ratify Constitution of 1787 Virginia First to Ratify Constitution of 1777 Virginia, not Delaware, is the First State in The Perpetual Union Of the United States
Elected under the Articles of Association and its subsequent resolutions in 1779 Samuel Huntington ascended to the first United States Presidency under the Constitution of 1777 on March 2, 1781. The United States, in Congress Assembled recorded the installment in its Journals on said date as follows: 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. U. S. Treasury referring to Samuel Huntington as President of the United States In Congress Assembled March 18, 1781 Stan Klos Collection www.samuelhuntington.org
Nine more Presidents of the United States under the Articles of Confederation were duly elected by the States after Samuel Huntington.
These Presidents utilized their office to exercise much influence on United States public affairs and legislation. The Presidents each had one vote of thirteen possible votes in the unicameral government. Quite often their yes or no represented 1/9th of the votes required in the nine state quorums necessary to enact legislation under the Constitution of 1777. All the Presidents presided, in this voting Speaker of the House Capacity, over the judicial, legislative and executive business of the United States of America in the unicameral federal government.
The Presidents also had the power to call for the unicameral government s assembly and adjournment. They received, read, answered, and at their own discretion held or disseminated the official state and foreign correspondence to the United States. They received both United States and foreign dignitaries when they arrived at the Capitol as the Head of State for the United States of America extending the nation s official hospitality. The Presidents acted similar to Supreme Court Chief Justices presiding over cases such as Federal Court Appeals, Death Penalty Appeals, Military trials and State boundary disputes.
President John Hanson Military Directive to George Washington, September 14, 1782 The United States in Congress Assembled Journals Stan Klos Collection - www.johnhanson.net
President Samuel Huntington Signed Military Commission February 24, 1781 Stan Klos Collection - www.samuelhuntington.org
President Thomas McKean signs Consul General of France Commission for Joseph de L Etombe Journals of the United States in Congress Assembled Stan Klos Collection www.thomasmckean.com
President Thomas Mifflin Ratifies the Treaty of Paris on January 14, 1784 Image Courtesy of the Stan Klos Collection www.thomasmifflin.com
President John Jay s Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer to Almighty God Proclamation March 20, 1779 the Library Of Congress Broadside Collection www.john Jay.net
Ordinance For The Establishment of the Mint of The United States of America signed Richard Henry Lee President, Library Of Congress Broadside Collection
The government of the United States provided for the President s expenses, servants, clerks, housing, and transportation. Their home state was expected to provide for their salary. Presidential Household Budget for the year 1785 Library of Congress Broadside Collection
In 1788 the President of the United States, in Congress Assembled, under the unicameral federal government, ceased to exist as Cyrus Griffin s one year term expired on January 21, 1789. A quorum could not be formed to elect an 11th President of the United States, in Congress Assembled. Charles Thomson, Secretary of the United States, in Congress Assembled continued to conduct the business of the nation from offices located in Fraunces Tavern in New York City until the new government assembled at the newly remodeled Federal Hall in the spring of 1789. Charles Thomson Signed Broadside Stan Klos Collection www.charlesthomson.com
By July 1788, the United States, in Congress Assembled reported that eleven States ratified the Constitution of 1787. In 1789 the unicameral federal government of the United States was replaced with three distinct branches: Executive - President George Washington Judicial Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay Legislative U.S. Senate President John Adams and U.S. House Speaker Frederick A.C. Muhlenberg. The ratification dates of the Constitution of 1787 by the states are as follows:
The Constitution of 1777 not only formed the Union but its language was utilized by President Lincoln, together with the Constitution of 1787, as the legal grounds to wage war to Preserve the Union." On July 4, 1861 President Abraham Lincoln appeared before a special session of the United States Congress. At this session Lincoln maintained that original Colonies were legally bound to the United States by both the Constitutions of 1787 and 1777 stating: "while that name was first adopted by the old ones in and by the Declaration of Independence. Therein the "United Colonies" were declared to be "free and independent states;" but, even then, the object plainly was not to declare their independence of one another, or of the Union, but directly the contrary, as their mutual pledge and their mutual action before, at the time, and afterwards, abundantly show. The express plighting of faith by each and all of the original thirteen in the Articles of Confederation, two years later, that the Union shall be perpetual, is most conclusive.
Abraham Lincoln Special Session Message to Congress - July 4, 1861 Library Of Congress
Beginning in a Tavern and fading away in a tavern, the United Colonies and States conducted their central government from eight different Capitol City/Town locations from 1774-1788 Capitols of The United Colonies and States by Robert Browning and Stan Klos Copyright 2008
The Rise of The U.S. Presidency & The Forgotten Capitols By: Stanley L. Klos www.forgottenfounders.org