The Maryland Ratifying Convention of 1788

The completion of the work of the Constitutional Convention, September 17, 1787, was by no means the end of the efforts of its members. Its presentation to Congress and its subsequent transmission to the state legislatures for ratification, was but the beginning of a bitter struggle in most of the states. The state of Maryland, although conservative in acting upon independence had ably supported the Union and answered every call. Its influence over the other states was undeniable. Consequently, its action upon ratification was very important to the anxious adherents of the new plan. But, as two of its delegates to the Convention refused to sign the proposed Constitution, there was strong opposition in the state. The newspapers of the day show that this struggle as J. T. Scharf says in his History of Maryland, "was carried on with a warmth and violence that threatened to break asunder all social ties and relations." The following pages give some of the conditions and reasons which led the State of Maryland to take its part in making that "more perfect union", which was the great aim of the representatives of the people who composed the Constitutional Convention.