State Ratifying Conventions
Bill of Rights: The Untold Story of Why it Exists
Most people associate passage of amendments in the 1st Congress with the dogged persistence of Rep. James Madison. But if it weren’t for the efforts of patriots like Richard Henry Lee, Samuel Adams, George Mason and John Hancock, he may never have had the opportunity....
Today in History: North Carolina Ratifies the Constitution
Today in 1789, North Carolina ratified the Constitution, becoming the 12th state to do so. Prior to this, the state had held a first convention in Hillsborough that decided not to ratify, but left open the possibility of doing so in the future. Prior to North...
Today in History: Pennsylvania Becomes 2nd State to Ratify the Constitution
Today in history, on Dec. 12, 1787, Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the United States Constitution. The event was the culmination of a bitter fight in Philadelphia between delegates both for and against ratification in the state. James Wilson, who had...
State and Federal Constitutions: Understanding the Difference
James Wilson, Patrick Henry, Charles Pinckney, James Iredell and others explained the main difference between state constitutions and the Constitution for the United States. It’s no small legal technicality, either. Path to Liberty: November 18, 2020...