Malcolm Rivera
Pennsylvania was the second state to ratify the Constitution, on 12 December 1787. It was the first large state to do so, and the first to face a serious Anti-Federalist challenge to ratification. The vote was 46 to 23 in favour of ratification.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution | 12 December 1787 |
| Vote | 46-23 |
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What You'll Learn
Pennsylvania was the second state to ratify the Constitution
Pennsylvania was the most ethnically and religiously diverse state in the new nation, with one-third of its population speaking German. The Constitution was printed in German to involve this population in the debate. The chairman of the Pennsylvania ratifying convention was Reverend Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg, who was the son of a leading German Lutheran minister and the grandson of Conrad Weiser, a colonial Indian interpreter and German-speaking political leader.
The Pennsylvania convention was called on November 21, 1787, in what is known today as Independence Hall. The pro-Constitution forces had a two-thirds majority at the meeting. However, some Anti-Federalists had to be forced to attend a session to approve the convention. The Anti-Federalists feared centralized power and insisted on a Bill of Rights to accompany the Constitution.
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The vote was 46 to 23
On December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania ratified the US Constitution by a vote of 46 to 23. Pennsylvania was the second state to ratify the Constitution, and the first large state to do so. It was also the first state to face a serious Anti-Federalist challenge to ratification.
The Pennsylvania convention had a two-thirds majority in favour of the Constitution. The Anti-Federalists, led by Thomas McKean, made a powerful argument against the Constitution, which was sent to the other states. This was known as the Pennsylvania minority report, and it stated that the proposed system of government could not be adopted without surrendering citizens' dearest rights. The report also laid out many concepts that would later be included in the Bill of Rights.
Pennsylvania was the most ethnically and religiously diverse state in the new nation, with one-third of its population speaking German. The Constitution was printed in German to involve this population in the debate. The chairman of the Pennsylvania ratifying convention was Reverend Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg, who had a German-speaking political leader as a grandfather.
The convention was called in what is now known as Independence Hall on November 21, 1787. Some Anti-Federalists had to be forced to attend a session to approve the convention.
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Pennsylvania was the first large state to ratify
Pennsylvania was the most ethnically and religiously diverse state in the new nation. One-third of its population was German-speaking, and the Constitution was printed in German to involve that population in the debate. The chairman of the Pennsylvania ratifying convention, Reverend Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg, was the son of a leading German Lutheran minister and the grandson of Conrad Weiser, a leading colonial Indian interpreter and German-speaking political leader.
The Pennsylvania convention ratified the document by a vote of 46-23. The Anti-Federalists' argument set the ground rules for ratification debates in the other states and spelled out many concepts that would be included in the Bill of Rights approved by the First Congress and ratified by the states.
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The state had a diverse population
Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution on 12 December 1787, becoming the second state to do so. The state had a diverse population, with one-third of its population being German-speaking. The Constitution was even printed in German to involve this part of the population in the debate.
The chairman of the Pennsylvania ratifying convention, Reverend Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg, was the son of a leading German Lutheran minister and the grandson of Conrad Weiser, a leading colonial Indian interpreter and German-speaking political leader. This diverse population and the presence of critics who found the Constitution lacking made the ratification process in Pennsylvania particularly challenging.
The state was the first to face a serious Anti-Federalist challenge to ratification. The Anti-Federalists, led by Thomas McKean, made a powerful argument against the Constitution, which was sent to the other states. This argument, known as the Pennsylvania minority report, criticised the Constitution for failing to codify the freedom of religious practice. The Anti-Federalists had previously denied their fellow citizens this freedom during the War for Independence, putting them in a hypocritical position.
Despite these challenges, Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution by a vote of 46 to 23. This was a significant step towards the formation of the United States, as Pennsylvania was the first large state to ratify the document. The diverse population of the state, including German-speaking citizens, played a crucial role in shaping the ratification process and ensuring that their voices were heard.
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The convention was called in what we know today as Independence Hall
Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution on 12 December 1787, becoming the second state to do so. The convention was called in what we know today as Independence Hall on 21 November 1787.
Pennsylvania was the first large state to ratify the Constitution, and the first to face a serious Anti-Federalist challenge to ratification. The state was ethnically and religiously diverse, with one-third of its population speaking German. The Constitution was printed in German to involve this population in the debate.
The chairman of the Pennsylvania ratifying convention was Reverend Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg, who had a notable family history. His father was a leading German Lutheran minister, and his grandfather, Conrad Weiser (1696-1760), was a leading colonial Indian interpreter and German-speaking political leader.
The pro-Constitution forces had a two-thirds majority at the meeting, and the document was ratified by a vote of 46-23. However, the Anti-Federalists, led by Thomas McKean, made a powerful argument against the Constitution, which was sent to the other states. This document, known as the Pennsylvania minority report, criticised the proposed system of government and argued for the protection of citizens' rights. It also set out concepts that would later be included in the Bill of Rights and established ground rules for ratification debates in other states.
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Frequently asked questions
Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution on 12 December 1787.
Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution by a vote of 46 to 23.
Pennsylvania was the first large state to ratify the Constitution, as well as the first state to endure a serious Anti-Federalist challenge to ratification.
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