The Harrisburg Convention Attempts to Amend the Constitution
Antifederalist opposition to the Constitution in Pennsylvania persisted even after its ratification by the state Convention in December 1787. In January 1788, Philadelphia Antifederalist leaders drafted and circulated petitions requesting (1) that the state Assembly censure the Pennsylvania delegates to the Constitutional Convention for exceeding their authority, (2) that ratification of the Constitution by the state Convention “not be confirmed,” and (3) that the Pennsylvania delegates in the Confederation Congress be instructed that the Constitution not be “adopted in the said United States.” Antifederalists met at Harrisburg and agreed to send a circular letter to the other counties asking that they send delegates to a convention to meet at Harrisburg on 3 September to propose amendments to the Constitution and to nominate candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Introduction
- Cumberland County Meeting: Proceedings and Resolutions, 3 July 1788
- Cumberland County Circular Letter, 3 July 1788
- Germantown, Pa., Antifederalist Meeting, 14 August 1788
- James Hanna to John Vandegrift, Nathan Vansant, and Jacob Vandegrift, Newtown, Bucks County, Pa., 15 August 1788
- Fayette County, Pa.: Certificate of Election of Delegates to Harrisburg Convention, 18 August 1788
- Pennsylvania Gazette, 20 August 1788
- Robert Galbraith et al. to President Benjamin Franklin, Huntingdon, Pa., 23 August 1788
- Bucks County, Pa., Meeting, Pennsylvania Packet, 25 August 1788
- “A.B.,” Pennsylvania Gazette, 27 August 1788
- Thomas McKean to Robert Magaw, Philadelphia, 28 August 1788
- William Shippen, Jr., to Thomas Lee Shippen, Philadelphia, 2 September 1788
- Pennsylvania Gazette, 3 September 1788
- Harrisburg Convention: Proceedings, Resolutions, and Petition, 3–6 September 1788
- Benjamin Lincoln to Theodore Sedgwick, Boston, 7 September 1788
- Pennsylvania Gazette, 10 September 1788
- Philadelphia Committee of Correspondence to Timothy Pickering, 11 September 1788
- New York Packet, 12 September 1788
- A Word to the Wise, Pennsylvania Mercury, 13 September 1788
- James Madison to George Washington, New York, 14 September 1788
- Richard Peters to George Washington, Philadelphia, 17 September 1788
- A Freeman, Pennsylvania Gazette, 17 September 1788
- Civis, Pennsylvania Packet, 19 September 1788
- A Despiser of Demagogues, Would-be-ats, and Wheelbarrow-men, Pennsylvania Mercury, 20 September 1788
- Pittsburgh Gazette, 20 September 1788
- Cassius, Philadelphia Federal Gazette, 9 October 1788
The Idea of a Second Constitutional Convention to Amend the Constitution
The idea for a second convention began late in the proceedings at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787. Prominent delegates Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph espoused the idea of adding amendments and a bill of rights to the Constitution. These additions would be considered by a second convention prior to the implementation of the Constitution. The delegates at Philadelphia rejected the idea.
Among those who wished to see a second convention, there were differences regarding the agenda at any such meeting. Most Antifederalists sought both to add a bill of rights and to alter the structure and powers of the new government. Others saw an opportunity to undo much of the work of the Philadelphia Convention and propose an amended version of the Articles of Confederation.
The most concerted efforts for a second general convention came from the states of Virginia and New York. Both ratified the Constitution but requested that amendments be considered by a second general convention called by the First Federal Congress.
Even after eleven states had ratified the Constitution, the desire for amendments to the new system persisted. Antifederalists in New York and Virginia continued their efforts through their state legislatures. Again, each requested that Congress call a second convention. James Madison played a central role advocating for amendments in the U.S. House of Representatives. In doing so, a central issue that drove the desire for a second convention was eliminated.
Before Ratification of the Constitution, 12 September 1788–21 June 1788
- Introduction
- The Constitutional Convention, A Second General Convention, and A Bill of Rights, 12–15 September 1787
- Richard Henry Lee to Samuel Adams, New York, 5 October 1787
- Edward Carrington to Thomas Jefferson, New York, 23 October 1787
- An Old Whig IV, Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, 27 October 1787
- An Old Whig VII, Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, 28 November 1787
- An American, Boston Independent Chronicle, 30 November 1787
- An Impartial Citizen, Petersburg Virginia Gazette, 10 January 1788
- Valerius, Richmond Virginia Independent Chronicle, 23 January 1788
- Aristides: Remarks on the Proposed Plan of a Federal Government, Annapolis Maryland Gazette, 31 January 1788
- George Washington to the Marquis de Lafayette, Mount Vernon, Fairfax Co., Va., 7 February 1788
- James Madison to George Nicholas, Orange Co., Va., 8 April 1788
- James Madison to Edmund Randolph, Orange Co., Va., 10 April 1788
- A Citizen of New-York: An Address to the People of the State of New York, New York Packet, 15 April 1788
- A Plebeian: An Address to the People of the State of New York, 17 April 1788
- Cassius III: To Richard Henry Lee, Esquire, Virginia Independent Chronicle, 23 April 1788
- Fabius VIII, Philadelphia Pennsylvania Mercury, 29 April 1788
- Charles Pettit to Robert Whitehill, Philadelphia, 5 June 1788
After Ratification of the Constitution by the Ninth State (New Hampshire, 21 June 1788)
- New York Ratifies the Constitution, 26 July 1788
- New York Circular Letter, 26 July, Poughkeepsie Country Journal, 5 August 1788
- Virginia Calls a Second Constitutional Convention, 30 October–20 November 1788
- Virginia House of Delegates Resolutions on a Second Convention, 30 October 1788
- Virginia Legislature Application to Congress, 20 November 1788
- Virginia Legislature to Governor George Clinton, 20 November 1788
- Virginia Legislature to the State Executives, 20 November 1788
- New York Legislature Recommends the Calling of a Second Constitutional Convention, 4 February–5 May 1789
- New York Assembly: Resolution Applying to Congress to Call a General Convention to Amend the Constitution, 5–7 February 1789
- George Clinton to the Governor of the State of Virginia, New York, 5 May 1789
- James Madison Speech: House of Representatives, 8 June 1789