Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution of the United States, becoming the second state to do so after Delaware. This action carried lasting historical significance because it represented early, decisive support for a new federal system at a moment when the future of the American republic remained uncertain. Pennsylvania’s ratification strengthened the legitimacy of the Constitution, accelerated the ratification process in other states, and reflected the political, economic, and ideological weight of one of the most influential states in the early United States.
Pennsylvania held a central position in the American founding era. Philadelphia served as the meeting place of the Constitutional Convention from May to September 1787. Many leading figures of the Revolution lived or worked in the state, including Benjamin Franklin, Gouverneur Morris, James Wilson, and Robert Morris. Pennsylvania’s population ranked among the largest in the former colonies, and its economy combined agriculture, commerce, and early industry. For these reasons, Pennsylvania’s response to the proposed Constitution carried national importance. Ratification by such a prominent state signaled that the new framework of government was workable and acceptable beyond smaller or more unified states.
The ratification process in Pennsylvania was rapid but contentious. The Pennsylvania legislature called a state convention soon after the Constitution was submitted to the states in September 1787. Elections for delegates revealed sharp divisions between Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and Anti-Federalists, who feared centralized power and the absence of explicit protections for individual rights. Despite these divisions, Federalists secured a majority of delegates. The convention met in Philadelphia in late November and early December 1787. Debate focused on the powers granted to Congress, the authority of the executive branch, and the lack of a bill of rights.
James Wilson emerged as the leading Federalist voice during the convention. He delivered extended arguments explaining popular sovereignty, separation of powers, and federalism. Wilson emphasized that the Constitution derived its authority from the people rather than the states, a concept that marked a departure from the Articles of Confederation. Anti-Federalist delegates issued a formal dissent, warning that the proposed government threatened liberty and state authority. These objections did not prevent ratification, but they became part of the broader national debate that later produced the Bill of Rights.
On December 12, 1787, the convention voted 46 to 23 in favor of ratification. Pennsylvania’s approval followed Delaware by only five days. This timing mattered. The Constitution required ratification by nine states to take effect. Early approvals created momentum and reduced uncertainty. Pennsylvania’s decision encouraged other large and politically complex states to act. Within weeks, New Jersey and Georgia followed. By June 1788, the required ninth state ratified the Constitution, allowing the new government to be organized.
Pennsylvania’s ratification also shaped the character of the early federal government. The state’s Federalist leadership supported a strong national authority capable of regulating commerce, managing public finance, and conducting foreign relations. These priorities influenced early federal policy debates during the administrations of George Washington. Pennsylvania’s experience with internal dissent further demonstrated that the Constitution could be adopted through open political conflict rather than unanimous agreement, setting a precedent for constitutional governance based on majority consent.
The decision of Pennsylvania to ratify without prior amendments had lasting consequences. Anti-Federalist criticism within the state added pressure for the adoption of a bill of rights at the federal level. Pennsylvania’s minority report became one of the earliest formal statements calling for constitutional amendments to protect individual liberties. This document circulated widely and informed debates in other states. When the First Congress proposed the Bill of Rights in 1789, it addressed many concerns first raised during Pennsylvania’s ratification struggle.
In historical terms, Pennsylvania’s ratification confirmed that the Constitution could unite diverse interests within a large and divided state. It demonstrated that economic centers, rural communities, and competing political factions could accept a shared federal framework. As the second state to ratify, Pennsylvania acted as a keystone in the early structure of the Union. Its decision on December 12, 1787, did not merely add another approval to the count. It provided credibility, momentum, and intellectual support for the establishment of the United States under the Constitution, shaping the political order that followed.
References / More Knowledge:
National Archives. “The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription.”
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript
Pennsylvania State Archives. “Ratification of the U.S. Constitution by Pennsylvania.”
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/phmc/pa-state-archives.html
Library of Congress. “James Wilson and the Ratification of the Constitution.”
https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200122307/
Teaching American History. “Pennsylvania Ratifying Convention Debates, 1787.”
https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/pennsylvania-ratifying-convention/