Simone Lawson
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was a radical state constitution that abolished property requirements for voting and holding office, allowing any adult man who paid taxes to vote or run for office. It also eliminated the office of the governor and established a unicameral government with a single legislative body. This constitution was the heart of a popular revolt against the existing government, which had been dominated by a largely Quaker ruling class. The constitution was completed on September 28, 1776, and was adopted by the Council of Censors, establishing a Council of Safety to rule in the interim. However, it faced opposition from some citizens and was replaced by a new constitution in 1790, which more evenly considered the complexities of government and the rights of citizens.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of completion | 28 September 1776 |
| Location of convention | Philadelphia |
| President of convention | Benjamin Franklin |
| Vice-president of convention | Colonel George Ross |
| Secretary of convention | John Morris |
| Assistant-secretary of convention | Jacob Garrigues |
| Date of first meeting of the Pennsylvania General Assembly | 28 November 1776 |
| President of the Supreme Executive Council | Thomas Wharton Jr. |
| Date of adoption | 28 September 1776 |
| Date of new constitution | 1790 |
| Nature of the constitution | Most democratic in America |
| Nature of the constitution | Most radical state constitution of the period |
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What You'll Learn
The constitution was completed on 28 September 1776
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was completed on 28 September 1776. It was a product of a convention called in accordance with the expressed wish of the Continental Congress. The convention assembled in Philadelphia on 15 July 1776 and its work culminated on 28 September 1776.
The convention was led by Benjamin Franklin, with Colonel George Ross as vice-president, John Morris as secretary, and Jacob Garrigues as assistant-secretary. The convention arrogated to itself the interim political power of the state. The constitution was read for the last time on 28 September, signed by the president and members, and transmitted to the Committee of Safety. The Committee was instructed to deliver the document to the general assembly of the state at their first meeting.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was a radical state constitution. It abolished property requirements for voting and holding office, allowing all tax-paying adult men to vote and run for office. It also eliminated the office of the governor and established a unicameral legislature, with policymaking taking place under full scrutiny.
The constitution was not submitted to the people for ratification, but it expressed the radical populist dimension of the conversation over what form of government would best secure the rights of the people. It was described by John Adams as "so democratical that it must produce confusion and every evil work". The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 served as a template for other constitutions, including Vermont's 1777 constitution.
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It was signed by the president and members
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was signed by its president, Benjamin Franklin, and its members on September 28, 1776. This was the culmination of a convention that had been ongoing since July 15, 1776, when it first assembled in Philadelphia. The convention was called in response to a growing desire among Pennsylvania's citizens for a complete break with England, inspired by Thomas Paine's Common Sense, published in January 1776.
The Pennsylvania Constitution was a radical document, even described by John Adams as "so democratical that it must produce confusion and every evil work." It abolished property requirements for voting and holding office, allowing any adult male taxpayer to participate in the political process. This was a significant expansion of the voting franchise, and it also eliminated the office of the governor, placing power in the hands of a single assembly.
The constitution was not submitted to the people for ratification, but it nevertheless expressed the radical populist sentiment of the time. It was also notable for being the only state to choose a unicameral legislature, doing away with the traditional bicameral structure. This unicameral legislature, however, proved to be very powerful, and the absence of a governor or an upper house to check its power led to concerns about the effectiveness of the government.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 served as a template for other constitutions, most notably Vermont's 1777 constitution, which gave birth to the Vermont Republic. However, by 1790, Pennsylvania had adopted a new constitution, which more evenly considered the complexities of government and the rights of citizens.
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It was transmitted to the Committee of Safety
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was a radical document, one that was considered by John Adams to be "so democratical that it must produce confusion and every evil work". It was the result of a popular revolt against the existing government, which had been brewing for months. The previous government had restricted voting to men of property, ensuring the domination of a largely Quaker ruling class. However, as immigration reduced the relative numbers of Quakers, resentment grew towards the increasing parliamentary exercise of dominance. This led to the formation of local committees, some calling themselves "Associators", who demanded a convention be called to "take the sense of the province".
The constitutional convention met in Philadelphia and elected Benjamin Franklin as its president. It arrogated to itself the interim political power of the state. The convention framed a unicameral legislature, with neither a governor to veto laws nor an upper house to check popular enthusiasms. They also wrote test oaths into the document, ensuring their opponents could not participate in the government. The constitution was completed on September 28, 1776, and it was transmitted to the Committee of Safety, with directions to deliver it to the general assembly of the state at their first meeting.
The Committee of Safety was led by Thomas Wharton Jr., who became the first Governor of the Commonwealth in all but name. The Committee of Safety was to rule in the interim, until the first meeting of the Pennsylvania General Assembly took place on November 28, 1776. The constitution was read in convention for the last time, signed by the president and members, and then handed over to the Committee of Safety.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was a groundbreaking document, expanding the franchise and enumerating the rights of citizens. It served as a template for other constitutions, including Vermont's 1777 constitution, which gave birth to the Vermont Republic. It was also the only state to choose a unicameral rather than a bicameral legislature, a decision that was criticised by James Madison in "The Federalist". The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was replaced by a new constitution in 1790, which more evenly considered the complexities of government and the rights of citizens.
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It was opposed by many of the commonwealth’s citizens
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was a radical document that caused much strife and was opposed by many of the commonwealth's citizens. The constitution was created by a specially elected convention that met from mid-July to the end of September 1776, and it was signed and transmitted to the Committee of Safety on September 28, 1776. It was the heart of a popular revolt against the existing government, which had been brewing for months. The previous government was dominated by a largely Quaker ruling class, which frustrated a growing number of people, especially those living on the expanding frontier. The constitution abolished property requirements for voting and holding office, allowing all adult men who paid taxes to vote and run for office. This was a dramatic expansion of who was considered a political person.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 also created a unicameral or single-body legislature, eliminating the office of the governor and the upper house. This placed power in the hands of a single assembly, with no check on popular enthusiasms, potentially leading to less effective government. The framers of the constitution wrote test oaths into the document, ensuring that their opponents could not participate in the government. This move towards one-party rule was controversial and opposed by several prominent citizens, including John Dickinson, James Wilson, Robert Morris, and Frederick Muhlenberg.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was part of ongoing political changes within the province and was influenced by the Continental Congress, which sought a complete break with England. The constitution's innovations caused much strife, leading to the creation of a new constitution in 1790. This later constitution more evenly considered the complexities of government and the rights of citizens, addressing the concerns of those who opposed the earlier document. The 1776 constitution, however, had a lasting impact, serving as a template for the Vermont Republic's constitution in 1777 and influencing many constitutions around the world.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was unique in its approach to governance and represented a bold experiment in democracy. While it faced opposition and was ultimately superseded, it left a significant legacy in the history of constitutional thought and the evolution of democratic ideals. The constitution's emphasis on popular rule, the expansion of voting rights, and the creation of a unicameral legislature challenged traditional notions of political participation and helped shape the course of American political thought in the years to come.
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It was replaced by a new constitution in 1790
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was a radical document for its time. It was created in the context of the American Revolution and the growing desire for a complete break from England. The Continental Congress inspired more radical thinking in Pennsylvania, leading to the calling of a state convention in 1776. This convention, which met in Philadelphia, elected Benjamin Franklin as its president. The convention arrogated to itself the interim political power of the state.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was also influenced by the Virginia model, with a bill of rights preceding the establishment of a unicameral republican government. It abolished property requirements for voting and holding office, allowing all tax-paying adult men to participate in political life. It also eliminated the office of the governor, instead placing power in the hands of a single assembly.
However, this constitution proved controversial. By writing test oaths into the document, the framers ensured that their opponents could not participate in the government, thus creating conditions for one-party rule. The constitution was also criticised for setting the stage for a less effective government, with no checks and balances in place.
As a result, the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was replaced by a new constitution in 1790. This new constitution aimed to address the shortcomings of its predecessor, more evenly considering the complexities of government and the rights of citizens. It sought to create a more balanced and effective system of governance, taking into account the lessons learned from the previous constitution's implementation.
The 1790 constitution marked a shift from the more radical ideas of 1776, which had caused much strife and been criticised for deviating too far from colonial tradition. The new constitution aimed to cleanse the government of Pennsylvania of monarchical and proprietary rule, making it more representative while also preserving colonial traditions. This shift reflected the changing political landscape in Pennsylvania and the desire for a more stable and inclusive form of governance.
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Frequently asked questions
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was the result of a popular revolt against the existing government, which had been brewing for months. The sentiment for a complete break with England was growing, and members of the Continental Congress took an interest in Pennsylvania's internal affairs. An election in May 1776 returned the old guard Assemblymen to office, which led to the Continental Congress calling for a new form of government.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 abolished property requirements for voting and holding office, allowing all tax-paying adult men to vote and run for office. It also established a unicameral legislature with no upper house and no governor, and included a Bill of Rights.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was controversial and had a lasting impact. It served as a template for the Vermont Constitution of 1777 and influenced many other constitutions around the world. However, it was replaced by a new constitution in 1790, which addressed the complexities of government and the rights of citizens in a more balanced way.
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