Jonah Patel
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was ratified on 28 September 1776. It was the state's first constitution following its declaration of independence and has been described as the most democratic in America. On 12 December 1787, Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the US Constitution, by a vote of 46 to 23.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | 28 September 1776 |
| Date of convention | 21 November 1787 |
| Date of approval | 12 December 1787 |
| Vote | 46-23 |
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What You'll Learn
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was ratified on 28 September 1776
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 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, and included a declaration of rights that coincided with the Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776.
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 its supporters) and of the Deputy Governor, John Penn.
On December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania ratified the U.S. Constitution, becoming the second state to do so. This was a significant step towards the eventual ratification of the Founding Document. Pennsylvania was the second-biggest state in the new union, and Philadelphia was the second-biggest city. The state was also the most ethnically and religiously diverse in the new nation.
The Constitution: Why Did We Ratify It?
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Pennsylvania was the second state to ratify the US Constitution
The Pennsylvania convention ratified the document by a vote of 46-23. The pro-Constitution forces had a two-thirds majority at the meeting. However, the anti-Federalists, led by Thomas McKean, made a powerful argument that was sent to the other states as part of a wide effort to reject the new Constitution. This document was called the Pennsylvania minority report. It said that:
> We entered on the examination of the proposed system of government, and found it to be such as we could not adopt, without, as we conceived, surrendering up your dearest rights.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was the state's first constitution following its declaration of independence. It was ratified on September 28, 1776, and has been described as the most democratic in America. It was drafted by Robert Whitehill, Timothy Matlack, Dr Thomas Young, George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin.
James Madison's Role in Ratifying the Constitution
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The vote was 46-23
On 12 December 1787, Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the Constitution, with a vote of 46 to 23. This was a big step towards the eventual ratification of the Founding Document. Pennsylvania was the first large state to ratify the Constitution, and the first to face a serious challenge from the Anti-Federalists, who feared centralised power and insisted on a Bill of Rights to accompany the Constitution.
The Anti-Federalists, led by Thomas McKean, made a powerful argument against ratification, which was sent to the other states. This argument, known as the Pennsylvania minority report, expressed concerns about surrendering "your dearest rights". Despite this opposition, the Constitution was ratified by a comfortable margin.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776, which was ratified on 28 September 1776, was the state's first constitution following its declaration of independence. It was drafted by a group including Benjamin Franklin and has been described as one of the most democratic in America. It featured a unicameral legislature and a collective executive, which may have influenced the later French Republic's formation under the French Constitution of 1793.
The Constitution: A Unanimous Ratification?
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The convention was called in what is now known as Independence Hall
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 Anti-Federalists, led by Thomas McKean, made a powerful argument against the new constitution, which was sent to the other states. This argument became known as the Pennsylvania minority report. It stated that the proposed system of government would require the surrender of "your dearest rights". The Pennsylvania minority report also set out many concepts that would later be included in the Bill of Rights, which was approved by the First Congress and ratified by the states.
James Madison's Advocacy for Constitution Ratification
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The Anti-Federalists wanted a Bill of Rights to accompany the Constitution
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was ratified on 28 September 1776. It was the state's first constitution following its declaration of independence and has been described as the most democratic in America.
The Federalists rejected the proposition that a Bill of Rights was needed. They believed that the Constitution already ensured individual rights to the citizens and that the creation of a "Bill of Rights" was unnecessary. They also believed that admitting that a Bill of Rights was necessary could set a dangerous precedent: if an individual right was not mentioned in the Bill of Rights, then that omission could set a precedent that the individual did not have that right.
The Anti-Federalists' opposition to ratifying the Constitution was a powerful force in the origin of the Bill of Rights to protect Americans' civil liberties. Their opposition was an important factor leading to the adoption of the First Amendment and the other nine amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights.
Hamilton's Constitution: Ratification and Legacy
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Frequently asked questions
The first Pennsylvania Constitution was ratified on 28 September 1776.
The Pennsylvania Constitution was ratified by a vote of 46-23.
The convention was called on 21 November 1787.
James Wilson led the effort to ratify the Pennsylvania Constitution.
