The Constitutional Convention of 1778 was the first constitutional convention held in

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

to draft a new state constitution following the state's declaration of independence in 1776. The convention that drafted the proposed constitution was composed of the elected members of the

Massachusetts Provincial Congress The Massachusetts Provincial Congress (1774–1780) was a provisional government created in the Province of Massachusetts Bay early in the American Revolution. Based on the terms of the colonial charter, it exercised ''de facto'' control over the ...

and the

Governor's Council The governments of the Thirteen Colonies of British America developed in the 17th and 18th centuries under the influence of the Constitution of the United Kingdom, British constitution. After the Thirteen Colonies had become the United States, the e ...

meeting as a single body. The document drafted by this convention was approved in February 1778, and submitted to the voters of the state for ratification, the first constitution to be submitted for such a vote. It was soundly rejected by voters, leading to a second convention in 1779, whose proposed constitution was accepted.

References

*Morison, Samuel Eliot
''A History of the Constitution of Massachusetts''
1778 in Massachusetts American constitutional conventions Constitutional Convention of 1778 {{US-law-stub