VOLUME 44, ISSUE 3
INSIGHTS
Distributed quarterly by mail and email, the Conservative Caucus of Delaware's newsletter contains relevant information and insights from noted leaders, authoritative stakeholders and like-minded members who demonstrate their passion for the truths we hold dear by putting pen to paper!
Delaware: First to Separate and First to Ratify
Separation Day in Delaware commemorates the state's independence from Pennsylvania and Great Britain. On June 15, 1776, three weeks before the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, 18 representatives of the Delaware Assembly (six members from each of the Lower Counties) gathered in the New Castle Court House and passed the Act of Separation. This Act
established the State of Delaware and severed ties not only with British rule but also with the proprietary government of Pennsylvania.
The State of Delaware was originally settled by Swedes, Dutch, and later English colonists, and consisted of the “Lower Counties on the Delaware” (e.g. New Castle, Kent, and Sussex). In 1682, William Penn annexed these counties to his Province of Pennsylvania for access to the Delaware River and Bay. Under Pennsylvania’s proprietor, the Lower Counties maintained a distinct identity. They had their own assembly starting in 1704, reflecting different economic interests, geography, and governance needs compared to Pennsylvania’s Upper Counties. By the mid-18th century, many residents bristled under this control and sought greater autonomy.
Delaware’s action preceded the national Declaration of Independence, positioning the colony as a trailblazer. A few weeks later, Delaware delegate Caesar Rodney made his famous midnight ride to Philadelphia to cast a decisive vote in favor of independence
on July 2nd, ensuring Delaware’s place of importance among the original 13 states. Delaware would again make history by being the First State to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787. In September 1787, delegates from across the states gathered in Philadelphia for the Constitutional Convention. Delaware’s representatives, John Dickinson, George Read, Richard Bassett, Gunning Bedford Jr., and Jacob Broom, played key roles, particularly in advocating for equal
representation for smaller states. Their efforts helped shape the Connecticut Compromise, creating a bicameral
Congress with equal Senate seats per state.
The Convention signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787. It then went to the states for ratification, requiring approval by at least nine states to take effect. Delaware moved quickly. On November 26, 1787, the state elected 30 delegates, 10 from each of its three counties, to a ratification convention. The convention convened on December 3rd at Battell’s Tavern (also known as the Golden Fleece Tavern) in Dover. There was little opposition. On December 7, 1787, the delegates voted unanimously — 30 to 0 — to ratify the Constitution. This made
Delaware the first state to approve the document, beating Pennsylvania by five days.
The official ratification document declared:
“We the Deputies of the People of the Delaware State, in Convention met, having taken into our serious consideration the Federal Constitution proposed and agreed upon by the Deputies of the United States in a General Convention held at the City of Philadelphia on the seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven, Have approved, assented to, ratified, and confirmed, and by these Presents, Do, in virtue of the Power and Authority to us given for that purpose, for and in behalf of ourselves and our Constituents, fully, freely, and entirely approve of, assent to, ratify and confirm the said Constitution.”
From Separation Day in 1776 to its ratification of the Constitution in 1787, these two historic events underscore Delaware’s pioneering spirit. While July 4th celebrates the collective birth of the nation, June 15th honors Delaware’s distinct assertion of sovereignty; December 7th, known as Delaware Day, celebrates a pivotal moment in American
history. It reminds us that American independence was not a single event but a series of bold local decisions that collectively forged a new nation. ■
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