This Day In Founding Fathers History – 12 December 2012

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This Day In Founding Fathers History – 12 December 2012

On this day in 1787, just five days after Delaware, the Province of Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution, becoming the second state to ratify and second state to enter the Union. Anti-federalist opponents of the Constitution penned “The Address and Reasons of Dissent of the Minority of the Convention, of the State of Pennsylvania, to Their Constituents,” outlining their grievances over the ratification. They charged that the assembly acted hastily in calling for the ratification convention so soon, preventing the citizens of the state from a debate of the issue. ₁

One notable birthday on this day in history in 1745, that of John Jay. Jay served as one of the presidents of the Continental Congress, helped form the constitution for the State of New York, served as Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain, was appointed a minister to negotiate peace with Great Britain, signed the Treaty of Paris, served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs, contributed writings to the Federalist Papers, was appointed the first Chief Justice of the U.S., appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Great Britain, and served as Governor of New York. ₂

_{1 “Pennsylvania Ratifies the Constitution,” Library of Congress, Today in History
2 Jay, John (1745-1829), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}