Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776

Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776
Title	Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction	Province of Pennsylvania
Date created	July–September 1776
Date ratified	September 28, 1776
Date effective	September 28, 1776
Location of document	Pennsylvania State Archives
Writer	Pennsylvania Provincial Conference, Constitutional Convention of 1776
Signatories	Benjamin Franklin, James Cannon, George Bryan, Timothy Matlack
Purpose	Frame of government for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was the first frame of government for the newly declared Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, adopted during the opening phase of the American Revolutionary War. Crafted by a radical faction in the Pennsylvania Provincial Conference, it established one of the most democratic governing structures of its era, directly influencing political developments across the Thirteen Colonies. Its innovative and controversial provisions, including a unicameral legislature and a broad franchise, made it a defining document of Pennsylvania's early statehood and a focal point in the debate over republicanism in the United States.

Background and drafting

The collapse of Pennsylvania's colonial government, particularly the authority of the Penn family proprietors and the conservative Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, created a political vacuum following the Declaration of Independence. A Pennsylvania Provincial Conference, convened in June 1776 at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, assumed control and called for elections to a Constitutional Convention of 1776. Dominated by radicals like James Cannon, George Bryan, and Timothy Matlack, and with Benjamin Franklin as president, the convention worked throughout the summer. Their work proceeded amidst the military urgency of the American Revolutionary War, as British Army forces threatened New York City.

Key provisions and structure

The constitution created a unique governmental framework centered on a powerful, annually elected, unicameral General Assembly. Executive authority was vested in a twelve-member Supreme Executive Council, with a presiding officer titled President of Pennsylvania. It featured an expansive suffrage clause granting the vote to all taxpayers and their adult sons, a Declaration of Rights, and provisions for public education. The document also instituted a Council of Censors, elected every seven years to review the government's conduct and call a constitutional convention if necessary.

Political philosophy and influences

The document was a practical embodiment of Radical Whig and populist ideals, heavily influenced by the writings of John Locke and the English Commonwealth period. Its architects sought to prevent tyranny by dispersing power, limiting terms, and ensuring maximum accountability to the citizenry, reflecting a deep distrust of aristocracy and executive authority. The philosophical underpinnings were also shaped by local religious groups like the Quakers and the political agitation of the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety.

Implementation and immediate impact

Upon its adoption on September 28, 1776, the constitution immediately became the operative law of Pennsylvania, with Benjamin Franklin elected as the first President of Pennsylvania. The radical Pennsylvania General Assembly it produced enacted significant legislation, including the gradual abolition of slavery in 1780. Its democratic example influenced the drafting of the Vermont Constitution of 1777 and fueled political divisions between the Constitutionalist supporters and the Republican opponents throughout the American Revolutionary War.

Criticism and controversy

The constitution faced intense opposition from more conservative and wealthy figures, such as Robert Morris, James Wilson, and John Dickinson, who denounced the unicameral legislature as tyrannical and the broad suffrage as destabilizing. Critics, including Gouverneur Morris and Alexander Hamilton, later pointed to the perceived excesses of the Pennsylvania General Assembly during the 1780s as evidence of the dangers of excessive democracy, influencing debates at the Philadelphia Convention of 1787. The document's legitimacy was persistently challenged, leading to a protracted period of internal political strife known as the "Critical Period" in the state.

Legacy and subsequent revisions

The 1776 constitution served as Pennsylvania's fundamental law for fourteen years, but its radicalism ensured it was not a permanent model. Mounting political pressure, including events like the Fort Wilson Riot, led to the convening of a new convention in 1790, which produced the more conservative Pennsylvania Constitution of 1790. This new document established a bicameral legislature and a stronger governor. The 1776 charter's most enduring legacy was its demonstration of the possibilities and perils of popular government, directly informing the creation of the United States Constitution and the subsequent Bill of Rights.

Category:1776 in Pennsylvania Category:American Revolutionary War Category:State constitutions of the United States