Annapolis Convention

Annapolis was also the site for a meeting of twelve states that called for the United States Constitutional Convention. See: Annapolis Convention (1786).

The Annapolis Convention was an Assembly of the Counties of Maryland that functioned as the colony's revolutionary government from 1774 to 1776. After 1775 it was officially named the Assembly of Freemen.

Background

In 1774, the committees of correspondence that had sprung up throughout the colonies were being drawn to the support of Boston, as they reacted to the closing of the port and increase of the occupying military force. Massachusetts had asked for a general meeting or Continental Congress to consider joint action. To forestall any such action, the royal governor of Maryland, Robert Eden prorogued the assembly (he ordered them adjourned or dismissed) on April 19, 1774. This was the last session of the colonial assembly ever held in Maryland. But, the assembly members agreed to meet in June at Annapolis after they went home to determine the wishes of the citizens in the counties they represented.

Over the next two and a half years the Convention met nine times, and operated as the state or colony level of Government for Maryland. Throughout the period, they maintained some standing Committees that continued their function between sessions.

Sessions of the Convention

1774 sessions

The first convention lasted four days, from June 22 to June 25, 1774. All sixteen counties were represented by a total of 92 members. They elected Matthew Tilghman as their chair. Within that short time they agreed:

That each county should have one vote.
Passed resolutions supporting Boston, and ordered supplies sent to them.
The Convention would continue from time to time as needed.
A Committee of Correspondence would continue between sessions, and members were named.
They would support non-importation agreements if the Continental Congress called for them.
Elected delegates to the first Continental Congress.

Other sessions were held on November 21-November 25, and December 8-December 12.

1775 sessions

July 26 -August 14 and December 7, 1775-January 28, 1776

1776 sessions

May 8-May 25, June 21-July 6, and August 14-November 11

The eighth session decided that the continuation of an ad-hoc government by the convention was not a good mechanism for all the concerns of the province. A more permanent and structured government was needed. So, on July 3, 1776 they resolved that a new convention be elected that would be responsible for drawing up their first state constitution, one that did not refer to parliament or the king, but would be a government "...of the people only." After they set dates and prepared notices to the counties they adjourned. On August 1 all freemen with property elected delegates for the last convention.

The ninth and last convention was also known as the Constitutional Convention of 1776. They drafted a constitution, and when they adjourned on November 11th, they would not meet again. The Conventions were replaced by the new state government.

External link

Image and Text of Proceedings in Maryland Archives

American Revolution | History of Maryland | Pre-revolutionary history of the United States