From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Annapolis Convention was an Assembly of the Counties of Maryland that functioned as the colony's revolutionary government from 1774 to 1776.
Annapolis was also the site for a meeting of several states that called for the Constitutional Convention. See: Annapolis Convention (1786).
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.
