Jonah Patel
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1790 was a revised version of the 1776 constitution, which was considered a failure as a blueprint for government. The 1776 constitution was influenced by Thomas Paine's Common Sense and crafted by Benjamin Franklin, George Bryan, James Cannon, George Clymer, Timothy Matlack, and others. It aimed to prevent the creation of an aristocracy and increase democratic participation by expanding voting rights to all tax-paying men, including African Americans. The 1790 constitution retained many of the democratic principles of its predecessor while addressing its shortcomings, such as the lack of checks and balances on the legislature. It served as a model for other state constitutions, including Vermont's in 1777 and Virginia's, and influenced the national Bill of Rights.
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What You'll Learn
- The 1790 constitution was a reaction to the 1776 constitution's failures
- The 1776 constitution was criticised for lacking checks and balances
- The 1790 constitution was modelled on the New York Constitution of 1777
- The 1776 constitution was inspired by Thomas Paine's Common Sense
- The 1790 constitution was designed to prevent the creation of an aristocracy
The 1790 constitution was a reaction to the 1776 constitution's failures
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was the heart of a popular revolt against the existing government, one that had been brewing for months. The constitution expanded the franchise and enumerated the rights of citizens, increasing the democratic nature of Pennsylvania's governing charter. It was influenced by the language of the Stamp Act Congress, the First Continental Congress, and the Declaration of Independence. Power resided in a unicameral legislature with members elected to one-year terms, and there was no provision for a governor or an upper house to check popular enthusiasms.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1790 was a reaction to the failures of the 1776 Constitution. The 1776 Constitution had been controversial from the beginning and set the stage for a less effective government. The authors of the 1790 Constitution sought to address these issues and create a more balanced government that more evenly considered the complexities of government and the rights of citizens. The 1790 Constitution established a bicameral legislature, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives, and provided for a governor with the power to veto laws. It also included provisions for a Supreme Court and other courts, as well as a system of checks and balances between the different branches of government.
The 1790 Constitution also addressed issues related to foreign affairs and the conduct of relations with foreign governments, which had been a challenge under the previous system. The new constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including the authority to conduct foreign relations. An executive branch was established to handle routine paperwork and attend to matters of lesser consequence, while important issues such as treaty ratification remained the responsibility of the legislative branch.
The 1790 Constitution also provided for a more robust system of government administration, with provisions for the appointment of various civil and military officers, including judges, naval officers, attorneys general, and others. It also included procedures for contested elections and the determination of rules of proceedings for the legislature, as well as requirements for keeping records and journals of legislative proceedings. Overall, the 1790 Constitution represented a significant evolution in Pennsylvania's governing charter, building on the democratic foundations laid by the 1776 Constitution while addressing its shortcomings and creating a more effective and balanced system of government.
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The 1776 constitution was criticised for lacking checks and balances
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1790 was modelled after the state's previous constitution from 1776, which was criticised for lacking checks and balances. In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, the United States of America was eager to establish its sovereignty and independence from the monarchy of King George III. The Continental Congress, led by figures such as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, played a pivotal role in shaping this transition.
The 1776 Constitution of Pennsylvania was crafted in the midst of a popular revolt against the existing government. It was influenced by the Stamp Act Congress, the First Continental Congress, and the Declaration of Independence, and it significantly expanded democratic principles in the state. The franchise was expanded to include all tax-paying free men, breaking away from the previous restriction of only allowing men of property to vote. Power was vested in a unicameral legislature with members serving one-year terms, and a twelve-member Supreme Executive Council was established to administer the government. The Assembly and Council together elected one of their members as President, a position largely controlled by the Council.
However, the 1776 Constitution was criticised for lacking adequate checks and balances. It placed power in the hands of a single assembly, without a governor or an upper house to serve as a check on popular enthusiasms. This absence of checks and balances set the stage for a less effective government. Additionally, the inclusion of written test oaths in the document ensured that opponents of the new government could not participate, inadvertently creating conditions conducive to one-party rule.
The shortcomings of the 1776 Constitution led to the adoption of a new constitution in 1790. This updated constitution sought to address the criticisms by more evenly considering the complexities of government and the rights of citizens. It introduced checks and balances, such as a bicameral legislature with a Senate and a House of Representatives, and a governor with the power to approve or veto bills. The 1790 Constitution also established procedures for contested elections, quorum requirements, and rules for disciplining and expelling members.
The concept of checks and balances is fundamental to the American system of government. It entails distributing and limiting power among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, preventing the consolidation of power in a single entity. This system safeguards against tyranny, protects individual rights, and ensures that no branch becomes too powerful, thus preserving the rule of law and democracy. The inclusion of checks and balances in the 1790 Pennsylvania Constitution reflected a commitment to creating a more balanced and effective system of government.
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The 1790 constitution was modelled on the New York Constitution of 1777
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1790 has been described as a "model constitution" due to its effective checks and balances and its extensive Declaration of Rights. It was preceded by the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776, which was considered a failure as it lacked these checks and balances, leading to legislative despotism. The 1790 constitution was modelled on the New York Constitution of 1777, which was considered a "horrible example" at the time.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was a product of the American Revolution and the growing resentment towards the British Empire. The goal of this constitution was to prevent the creation of an aristocracy and to expand democratic rights. It was heavily influenced by Thomas Paine's "Common Sense," with a strong emphasis on "liberty" and "the people's government." The framers of this constitution, including Benjamin Franklin, expanded voting rights to all tax-paying free men, including African American men. They also established a unicameral legislature to prevent elite control and increased the democratic nature of Pennsylvania's governing charter.
However, the 1776 constitution had significant flaws. It lacked effective checks and balances against the legislature, resulting in arbitrary actions such as overruling judicial cases and confiscating property without trial. The legislature's power went unchecked, paralysing the rest of the government. These issues led to a campaign in the mid-to-late 1780s to change the Pennsylvania Constitution, culminating in the adoption of the new constitution in 1790.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1790 established a workable government with effective checks and balances. It protected citizen rights from arbitrary government invasion and included a strong Declaration of Rights. It retained the expanded democratic rights of the previous constitution while addressing the issues that plagued it. The 1790 constitution served as a model for other states and constitutions, including Vermont's 1777 constitution, which played a role in the formation of the Vermont Republic.
In conclusion, the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1790 was a significant improvement over its predecessor, providing a workable framework for government with effective checks and balances. By modelling the new constitution on the New York Constitution of 1777, the framers addressed the shortcomings of the 1776 version while preserving the democratic gains it had achieved. The 1790 constitution's influence extended beyond Pennsylvania, shaping the political landscape of the time and solidifying its reputation as a "model" constitution.
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The 1776 constitution was inspired by Thomas Paine's Common Sense
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was a direct response to Thomas Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense", published in January 1776. Paine's work was a call to arms for the American Revolution, advocating for a complete break from Great Britain and the formation of an independent American government. It was written in plain language, appealing to the common capacities of all people to evaluate the case for independence, and promoting a radical democratic spirit. Paine's arguments were already in common use among the elite who comprised Congress, and his pamphlet helped spread the idea of republicanism, bolstering enthusiasm for separation from Britain.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was crafted in response to this sentiment. It was the heart of a popular revolt against the existing government, which had been governed under a succession of instruments known as frames of government. These documents restricted voting to men of property and assured domination by a largely Quaker ruling class. The 1776 Constitution, influenced by the language of the Stamp Act Congress, the First Continental Congress, and the Declaration of Independence, proclaimed in detail the rights of citizens and expanded the voting franchise to all tax-paying free men.
The Constitution placed power in the hands of a unicameral legislature, with members elected to one-year terms, and a twelve-member Supreme Executive Council. The Council and Assembly together would elect one of these men to be President, a position largely controlled by the Council. This new Constitution set the stage for a less effective government, as it lacked a mechanism to veto laws or an upper house to check popular enthusiasms.
Thomas Paine himself may have been involved in the creation of this Constitution, along with other key figures such as George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin. Paine's ideas, promoted in "Common Sense", had a significant impact on American political thought, permanently shaping the way Americans thought about democracy and independence. Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense" thus served as a key inspiration for the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776, helping to shape a more democratic and independent America.
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The 1790 constitution was designed to prevent the creation of an aristocracy
The 1790 Constitution of Pennsylvania was designed to prevent the creation of an aristocracy, and it was not the only state constitution to be formed during this period. The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was the heart of a popular revolt against the existing government, which had been brewing for months. The province had been governed under a succession of instruments known as frames of government, which restricted voting to men of property and assured domination by a largely Quaker ruling class. As immigration reduced the relative numbers of Quakers, their alliance with other groups continued to return governments whose policies frustrated a growing number of people.
The 1776 Constitution, influenced by the language of the Stamp Act Congress, the First Continental Congress, and the Declaration of Independence, expanded the voting franchise to all tax-paying free men. Power resided in a unicameral legislature whose members were elected to one-year terms. The government was to be administered by a twelve-member Supreme Executive Council, with one of these men to be elected as President.
However, the 1776 Constitution was controversial from the beginning. By placing power in the hands of a single assembly, with neither a governor to veto laws nor an upper house to check popular enthusiasms, it set the stage for a less effective government. The 1790 Constitution was adopted soon after the end of the Revolutionary War, and it more evenly considered the complexities of government and the rights of citizens.
The 1790 Constitution was not the only attempt to prevent the creation of an aristocracy. In 1786, a group of "nationalist" politicians proposed that the Continental Congress call a "general convention" in Philadelphia to address the financial crisis and disorder threatening the newly-created confederation government. The Continental Congress eventually agreed, and in 1787, fifty-five delegates met in Philadelphia and produced the first written constitution for any nation in the world.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, including James Madison, sought to create a strong central government to provide order and stability. Madison, in particular, wanted to prevent a tyranny of the majority and protect minority rights. He believed that a single faction could more easily control the government within a state, but it would be harder for them to dominate a national government comprising many different interest groups. The government could be designed to insulate officeholders from the pressures of a majority faction. To that end, Madison proposed that Congress should have veto power over state laws.
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 also grappled with the issue of slavery, which pervaded the Convention's debates. The delegates argued about how to "count" slaves when apportioning representation and taxation, and they eventually reached a compromise: slaves would be counted as three-fifths of a person. This compromise was not based on logic or morality but was necessary to produce harmony among conflicting interests within the Convention.
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Frequently asked questions
The main goal of the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was to limit and prevent the creation of an aristocracy, and to increase the democratic nature of Pennsylvania's governing charter.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 included several innovations that expanded democracy. All men who had paid taxes were permitted to vote, including African American men. A unicameral legislature, with members elected for one term, was also put in place.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was considered a failure as a blueprint for government. The legislature took many actions that appeared to be despotic, such as confiscating property without trial and overruling judicial cases. There were no effective checks on the legislature's power.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1790 was modelled after the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776, which served as a template for the Vermont Constitution of 1777. The 1790 Constitution retained the democratic nature of the 1776 Constitution but addressed its problems by creating a workable government with effective checks and balances.
