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William Paca

Maryland Historical Society

Antifederalists argued against approving the United States Constitution without amendments when Maryland's ratifying convention met in Annapolis in April 1788. Although they were outnumbered and outvoted by the pro-Constitution Federalists, the Antifederalists contributed to the developing debate about the need for a national Bill of Rights.

Ratifying the Constitution
In September 1787, the Constitutional Convention produced a new plan for national government to replace the weak and ineffective Articles of Confederation. Nine of the thirteen states had to approve, or ratify, the proposed Constitution before it could take effect. As the states prepared to hold ratifying conventions, the new document's supporters, known as Federalists, worked to convince voters that the Constitution was a good plan that deserved their backing. Antifederalists warned that the Constitution would create a strong national government that would threaten the powers of the states and the rights of individuals.

Samuel Chase

Maryland Historical Society

Ratification met little resistance in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut, but Federalists were upset by developments in three other states. Massachusetts narrowly ratified the Constitution but recommended some amendments, or changes, to it. New Hampshire's convention failed to take an official vote, and Rhode Islanders voted not to hold a convention. Federalists worried that if Maryland did not ratify the document, or if it pushed for amendments, Antifederalists might gain strength in Virginia and New York and ultimately defeat the Constitution.

Maryland Federalists and Antifederalists
In the 1780s, many Marylanders were in debt, and their paper money had lost much of its value. Trade disputes with neighboring states and weak overseas protection of merchant ships and sailors hurt Maryland's economy. Most Maryland voters favored the Constitution and the improvements it seemed to promise. They elected Federalists to the ratifying convention by an overwhelming majority.

Only three counties sent Antifederalist delegations to the ratifying convention, held in Annapolis from April 21 to 28, 1788:

• Anne Arundel County
  • Jeremiah T. Chase
  • Samuel Chase
  • Benjamin Harrison
  • John Francis Mercer
• Baltimore County
  • Edward Cockey
  • Nathan Cromwell
  • Capt. Charles Ridgely
  • Charles Ridgely, of William
• Harford County
  • John Love
  • Luther Martin
  • William Paca
  • William Pinkney

Mercer and Martin had been delegates to the Constitutional Convention, and Samuel Chase and former governor Paca were signers of the Declaration of Independence and proven patriot leaders. The outnumbered Antifederalists knew they could not stop the convention from ratifying the Constitution, but they hoped to win approval of amendments that would safeguard the rights of citizens and the states.

Maryland's Ratifying Convention
At the convention, several Antifederalists spoke against the Constitution, but they failed to sway the majority. William Paca took the lead in writing a list of twenty-two possible amendments, but he was not permitted to present them before the ratification vote was taken. The convention approved the Constitution by a vote of 63 to 11, making Maryland the seventh state. The practical Paca had voted with the Federalists, but he still wanted the convention to consider amendments.

A committee chaired by Paca approved a number of amendments, but the members disagreed on what and how they should report to the overall group. By this time the Federalists had grown tired of the Antifederalists' concerns and were ready to adjourn, so the convention ended without taking a vote on the amendments. Even though the Maryland Antifederalists failed to win approval of their ideas in their own state, their published report provoked discussion about amendments in the Virginia ratifying convention and contributed significantly to the process of creating a national Bill of Rights.

—Glenn E. Campbell