Hillsborough Constitutional Convention, 1788
Hillsborough, Orange County, North Carolina
Marker Inscription
Constitutional Convention, 1788. Delegates debated U.S. Constitution, July 21-Aug. 4, 1788, & voted to delay ratification until bill of rights was added. Met 100 yards S.W.
Erected by North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources
The Story
In the summer of 1788, delegates gathered in Hillsborough to weigh whether North Carolina should ratify the proposed United States Constitution. From July 21 to August 4 they debated fiercely and ultimately voted to withhold ratification until a bill of rights was added to protect individual liberties. The state stood apart until those guarantees were secured.
Why it matters
North Carolina's insistence on a bill of rights before ratifying reflects the deep American anxiety about federal power, a stand that helped ensure the liberties enshrined in the first ten amendments.
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Related events
- · North Carolina ratification convention, 1788
Themes & tags
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