Guide to the Constitutional Convention Constitution of the United States: Papers Relating to Adoption by the State of Rhode Island , 1785-1790

Rhode Island State Archives
Rhode Island State Archives
337 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
Tel: 401-222-2353
Fax: 401-222-3199
email: statearchives@sos.ri.gov

Published in 2010

Collection Overview

Title:	Constitutional Convention Constitution of the United States: Papers Relating to Adoption by the State of Rhode Island
Date range:	1785-1790
Creator:	Rhode Island. General Assembly
Extent:	0.46 cubic feet other
Abstract:	The Constitutional Convention Constitution of the United States: Papers Relating to Adoption by the State of Rhode Island consist of papers relating to the adoption of the United States Constitution by Rhode Island.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	Rhode Island State Archives
Collection number:	C#238

Scope & content

The Constitutional Convention Constitution of the United States: Papers Relating to Adoption by the State of Rhode Island consist of papers relating to the adoption of the United States Constitution by Rhode Island. The papers include votes of freeholders of the towns respective, resolutions and proposed amendments and journals of the convention and ratification.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Hancock, John, 1737-1793.
• Ward, Henry, 1732-1797
• Collins, John, 1717-1795

Subject Topics

• Constitutional conventions--United States--States.
• Constitution.
• United States. Constitutional Convention (1787)
• Constitutional history--United States.
• Constitutional history--Rhode Island.
• United States--History.
• United States--History--1783-1815.
• United States--History--19th century.
• Rhode Island. General Assembly
• Constitutional amendments--Ratification
• Constitutional amendments--Rhode Island.
• Rhode Island. Governor

Subject Topics

• Government, Politics and Law
• Rhode Island/Local Interest

Document Types

• resolutions (administrative records)
• government records
• state government records
• municipal government records
• journals (accounts)
• drafts (documents)
• proceedings
• election returns
• ballots
• petitions
• notes
• letters (correspondence)

Arrangement

The Constitutional Convention Constitution of the United States: Papers Relating to Adoption by the State of Rhode Island are arranged into the following series:

• Series I. Votes of the Freeholders of the Towns, 1788
• Series II. Paper Money Resolutions, 1786-1788
• Series III. Convention Journal and Related Papers, 1790
• Series IV. Proceeding of Town Meetings and Instructions to Town Delegates, May 1790
• Series V. Election Certificates of Delegates to the [State] Convention by the Freemen of the towns, 1790
• Series VI. Resolution of Federal Constitution by Congress, 1787-1790
• Series VII. Various documents, 1785-1790

Historical note

On February 21, 1787, Congress resolved: "It is expedient that on the second Monday in May next a Convention of delegates who shall have been appointed by the several States be held at Philadelphia for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation." On the appointed day, May 14, few representatives were present. The Convention (also known as the Philadelphia Convention) only obtained a quorum—delegates of twelve of the states were there on May 25.

The 55 delegates who drafted the Constitution included most of the outstanding leaders, or Founding Fathers, of the new nation. They represented a wide range of interests, backgrounds, and stations in life, although they shared a common background: the vast majority of them were wealthy landowners and all were white males.

The primary aim of the Constitution was to create a strong elected government that was responsive to the will of the people, although there is some controversy over this. Many of the Founding Fathers believed that the new government needed to be insulated from the will of the people; hence the design of such features as the Electoral College or the election of Senators by the state legislatures. The concept of sovereignty of the people in a republic was new—a key ingredient of republicanism in the United States. By the time the Constitution was adopted, Americans had considerable expertise in the art of self-government. Long before independence was declared, the colonies were functioning governmental units controlled by the people. By 1777, ten of the thirteen states had adopted their own constitutions. Most states had a governor elected by the state legislature. The legislature itself was elected by popular vote. Every state but Pennsylvania had a bicameral legislature as well.

The Articles of Confederation had tried to unite these self-governing states. The Constitution, by contrast, established a strong central, or federal, government with broad powers to regulate relations between the states and with sole responsibility in such areas as foreign affairs and defense.

It was within the power of the old Congress to expedite or block the ratification of the new Constitution. The document that the Philadelphia Convention presented was technically only a revision of the Articles of Confederation. But the last article of the new instrument provided that when ratified by conventions in nine states, it should go into effect among the States so acting. The need for only nine states was a controversial decision at the time, since the Articles of Confederation could only be amended by unanimous vote of all the states. However, the new Constitution was ratified by all thirteen states, with Rhode Island signing on last in May 1790.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	No special restrictions unless otherwise specified.
Use of the materials:	Copyright is in the public domain unless otherwise specified. We reserve the right to restrict reproduction of materials due to preservation concerns.
Preferred citation:	Constitutional Convention Constitution of the United States: Papers Relating to Adoption by the State of Rhode Island, C#238, Rhode Island State Archives.
Contact information:	Rhode Island State Archives Rhode Island State Archives 337 Westminster Street Providence, RI 02903 Tel: 401-222-2353 Fax: 401-222-3199 email: statearchives@sos.ri.gov

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	Accession information is unavailable.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Kate Telford.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Kate Telford 2010 February 25
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

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