History of Pennsylvania
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Main articles: Pennsylvania, Colonial Pennsylvania.
The History of Pennsylvania is as varied as any in the American experience and reflects the melting pot vision of the United States.
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The Revolution
Most Pennsylvania and its residents generally supported the protests and dismay common to all 13 colonies after the Proclamation of 1763 and the Stamp Act. Pennsylvania originally supported the idea of common action, and sent delegates to the Stamp Act Congress in 1765. When difficulties continued, she sent delegates to the first Continental Congress and its later meetings, and even hosted the Congress in Philadelphia.
Political revolution
But, as active revolution neared, the state resisted the tendency to independence as long as any. Several factors account for this resistance. The Loyalist faction was present as in any colony. A strong Quaker faction was opposed to actions they viewed as leading to war. Their delegates in the first congress proposed the Galloway Plan to resolve issues involved in the union with Great Britain. While the plan failed in Congress, Joseph Galloway remained as a leader in the Assembly, and delegates to the national congress were under instructions not to support Independence.
In May of 1776, the Pennsylvania Assembly was still resisting the movement towards independence. From around the state, calls increased for a constitutional convention to replace the assembly with a more revolutionary government. Philadelphia provides an good example of this. On May 20, 1776 Daniel Roberdeau called and led a town meting. Over a thousand citizens arrived to hear the resolutions of the Congress read to them. Thomas McKean and Lambert Cadwalader spoke fervently for liberty and independence. The meeting approved a series of resolutions including the call for a constitutional convention.
Constitution of 1776
Main article: Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776
In late June a convention of delegates met in Philadelphia. They had been selected by the Committees of Correspondence, the Sons of Liberty, and other revolutionary groups around the state. By June, the old Assembly altered their delegate instructions in an effort to remain effective. but it was too late. On July 8 they selected delegates to meet as a Constitutional Convention. A Committee was formed with Benjamin Franklin as chair and George Bryan and James Cannon as prominent members. By September 28, 1776 the Convention produced a constitution.
The Constitution called for a unicameral legislature or Assembly. Executive authority rested in a Supreme Executive Council whose members were to be appointed by the assembly. This constitution was never formally adopted. In elections during 1776 radicals gained control of the Assembly. By early 1777, they selected members for an executive council, and Thomas Wharton, Jr. was named as the President of the Council. This ad-hoc government continued through the revolution, and would not be replaced until the Constitution of 1790.
The revolutionary war
See: Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Valley Forge.
External links
- Pennsylvania State Archives web site (http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/overview.htm)
- 1776 Constitution text (http://www.docheritage.state.pa.us/documents/constitutiontrans.asp)