John hanson-when we think of the president of the united states, many people do not realize that we are actually referring to presidents elected under the u.s. constitution. everybody knows that the first president in that sense was george washington. but in fact the articles of confederation, the predecessor to the constitution, also called for a president albeit one with greatly diminished powers. eight men were appointed to serve one-year terms as president under the articles of confederation. the first was john hanson, in 1781. his exact title was the president of the united states in congress assembled.