Scope and Content: At the close of the Provincial Congress in July 1775, the governance of Massachusetts returned to a modified form of that set forth in the William and Mary charter of 1691. In 1777 the General Court drafted a constitution that was rejected by the voters in 1778 by a wide margin. On Feb. 19, 1779, voters were asked to approve a constitutional convention, which designated a committee headed by John Adams to produce a new draft. It was approved in summary by the convention in Mar. 1780; on June 16, after approval of each article by two-thirds of the town meetings, the constitution was declared ratified by the convention, and the new constitutional government began on Oct. 25, 1780. The document consists of a preamble, declaration of rights, and framework of government. A number of stated rights were found again in the federal constitution (including its Bill of Rights) of 1789.
Restrictions: Access by permission of state archivist or curator of Massachusetts Archives only
Notes: In keeping with traditions established in the colonial period, the secretary of state is the custodian of the foundation records of Massachusetts
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