Eleanor Finch
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was the state's first constitution following its declaration of independence. It was ratified on 28 September 1776 and was drafted by Robert Whitehill, Timothy Matlack, Dr Thomas Young, George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin. The constitution was highly democratic and featured a unicameral legislature and collective executive. It was tied to ongoing political changes within the province in 1776.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 |
| Date of Ratification | 28 September 1776 |
| Drafted by | Robert Whitehill, Timothy Matlack, Dr Thomas Young, George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin |
| Government Structure | Unicameral legislature and collective executive |
| Declaration of Rights | Coincided with the Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was the state's first constitution
- It was ratified on 28 September 1776
- It was drafted by Robert Whitehill, Timothy Matlack, Dr Thomas Young, George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin
- It was highly democratic, featuring a unicameral legislature and collective executive
- It was tied to ongoing political changes within the province in 1776
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was the state's first constitution
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was highly democratic and innovative, featuring a unicameral legislature and collective executive. It may have influenced the later French Republic's formation under the French Constitution of 1793. The constitution also included a declaration of rights that coincided with the Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was tied to ongoing political changes within the province. As the Revolution evolved, the views of some political leaders differed from those of the Provincial Assembly and the Deputy Governor, John Penn. Extralegal committees were established that would eventually displace and take over the government. For example, in June 1774, after Governor Penn refused to convene the Assembly to consider the question of discussing some action to the British government’s response to the Boston Tea Party, a public meeting held under the leadership of John Dickinson and Thomas Willing inspired 8,000 people in Philadelphia to call for the First Continental Congress and the establishment of a committee of correspondence to communicate with the other colonies.
The Continental Congress inspired the more radical elements in Pennsylvania to overmaster the more conservative leaders. Shortly afterwards, in June 1776, these committees called a state convention, which met on 15 July 1776. The decisions made at that convention would, when ratified, cause the previous government to be completely superseded; it established a Council of Safety to rule in the interim, and it drew up the commonwealth (state) constitution, which was adopted on 28 September 1776. The change of government, however, was opposed by many of the commonwealth’s citizens, including John Dickinson, James Wilson, Robert Morris, and Frederick Muhlenberg, among others.
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It was ratified on 28 September 1776
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was the state's first constitution following its declaration of independence. It was ratified on 28 September 1776.
The constitution was drafted by Robert Whitehill, Timothy Matlack, Dr Thomas Young, George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin. It was highly democratic, featuring a unicameral legislature and collective executive. It may have influenced the later French Republic's formation under the French Constitution of 1793.
The constitution was tied to ongoing political changes within the province in 1776. As the Revolution evolved, the views of some political leaders differed from those of the Provincial Assembly and of the Deputy Governor, John Penn. Extralegal committees were established that would eventually displace and take over the government.
The convention arrogated to itself the interim political power of the state. The constitution was completed on 28 September 1776, at which time it was read in convention for the last time, signed by the president and members, and transmitted to the Committee of Safety. The first meeting of the Pennsylvania General Assembly took place on 28 November 1776. Thomas Wharton Jr, who had been the President of the Committee of Safety, was chosen as President of the Supreme Executive Council in June 1777 and became, in effect, the first Governor of the Commonwealth.
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It was drafted by Robert Whitehill, Timothy Matlack, Dr Thomas Young, George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was the state's first constitution following its declaration of independence. It was drafted by Robert Whitehill, Timothy Matlack, Dr Thomas Young, George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin.
The constitution was ratified on 28 September 1776, and has been described as the most democratic in America. It was drafted by a convention called by the Continental Congress, which assembled in Philadelphia on 15 July 1776. The convention arrogated to itself the interim political power of the state.
The constitution included a declaration of rights that coincided with the Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776. It was tied to ongoing political changes within the province in 1776. As the Revolution evolved, the views of some political leaders differed from those of the Provincial Assembly and of the Deputy Governor, John Penn. Extralegal committees were established that would eventually displace and take over the government.
The change of government was opposed by many of the commonwealth's citizens, including John Dickinson, James Wilson, Robert Morris, and Frederick Muhlenberg, among others.
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It was highly democratic, featuring a unicameral legislature and collective executive
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was the state's first constitution following its declaration of independence. It has been described as the most democratic in America.
The constitution was drafted by Robert Whitehill, Timothy Matlack, Dr Thomas Young, George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin. It featured a unicameral legislature and collective executive, which may have influenced the later French Republic's formation under the French Constitution of 1793.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was highly democratic. It was tied to ongoing political changes within the province in 1776. As the Revolution evolved, the views of some political leaders differed from those of the Provincial Assembly and its supporters, and of the Deputy Governor, John Penn. Extralegal committees were established that would eventually displace and take over the government.
The constitution was completed on 28 September 1776, at which time it was read in convention for the last time, signed by the president and members, and transmitted to the Committee of Safety. The first meeting of the Pennsylvania General Assembly took place on 28 November 1776. Thomas Wharton Jr, who had been the President of the Committee of Safety, was chosen as President of the Supreme Executive Council in June 1777 and became, in effect, the first Governor of the Commonwealth.
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It was tied to ongoing political changes within the province in 1776
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was the state's first constitution following its declaration of independence. It was ratified on 28 September 1776 and was drafted by Robert Whitehill, Timothy Matlack, Dr Thomas Young, George Bryan, James Cannon and Benjamin Franklin.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was tied to ongoing political changes within the province in 1776. The convention arrogated to itself the interim political power of the state. The constitution was completed on 28 September, at which time it was read in convention for the last time, signed by the president and members, and transmitted to the Committee of Safety. The Committee of Safety was instructed to deliver the constitution to the general assembly of the state at their first meeting, immediately after they had chosen their speaker. The first meeting of the Pennsylvania General Assembly took place on 28 November 1776.
The change of government was opposed by many of the commonwealth's citizens, including John Dickinson, James Wilson, Robert Morris and Frederick Muhlenberg, among others. The constitution was drafted against a backdrop of political upheaval. Until this point, many influential leaders in Pennsylvania had not supported independence from the Crown, but had favoured reconciliation. The Continental Congress, however, inspired the more radical elements in Pennsylvania to overmaster these more conservative leaders.
In June 1776, committees called a state convention, which met on 15 July 1776. The decisions made at that convention would, when ratified, cause the previous government to be completely superseded. It established a Council of Safety to rule in the interim, and it drew up the commonwealth (state) constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776.
It was ratified on 28 September 1776.
It was drafted by Robert Whitehill, Timothy Matlack, Dr Thomas Young, George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin.
