Delaware was the first State to ratify the Constitution. As noted in the last blog, there is nothing credible [FN112] to support “Christian” nationalists’ claims that this country was founded as a “Christian” country in records related to Delaware’s ratification convention. 1/13

Pennsylvania was 2nd [FN113] to ratify. [FN114] A pre-Revolutionary War history makes no mention of religion. [FN115] A record of Pennsylvania’s State convention shows rules for that convention, including rule 2 on “the opening of the Convention of each day ... 2/13

the minutes of the preceding day shall be read, and then are in the power of the Convention to be corrected ; after which any business addressed to the chair may be proceeded to.” [FN116] There is no reference to prayer in the rules or at the opening of any day’s session. [FN117] 3/13

James Wilson, for several days, speaks about provisions of the Constitution. [FN118] He uses a biblical reference to illustrate a point. [FN119] He neither says a part of the Constitution as based on religion nor says a “Christian” country is created. 4/13

New Jersey was the 3rd State to ratify. [FN120] There are very few sources for the [New Jersey] state Convention” [FN121] and few records of its ratification [FN122] either recite a date as “in the year of our Lord” [FN123] or do not make even that reference. [FN124] 5/13

Footnotes:
FN112. The qualifier “credible: trustworthy, believable” (The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 1974, p. 176) is necessary because “Christian” nationalists can make up statements that they know to be false (a/k/a “lies”), that are based on special chin-wags w/their deity. 6/13

FN113. Pennsylvania, like Massachusetts, Virginia and Kentucky, is formally a “commonwealth: A nation, state, or other political unit.” Black’s Law Dictionary, New Pocket Edition (1996), p. 114. For our purposes, its admission as a State is relevant. 7/13

FN114. Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution on December 12, 1787. Constitution of the United States, “Adoption of Constitution,” West’s Annotated Indiana Code, Constitution,” (1999), p. 29; 1 Elliot’s Debates, pp. 319-20. 8/13

FN115. Pennsylvania’s Ante-Revolutionary history, (1 Elliot’s pp. 36-38) its commissioners at Annapolis Convention, (Id., pp. 116-20) credentials of its delegates to Philadelphia, (Id., pp. 129-30) and report to Congress of its 12/12/1787 ratification. (Id., pp. 319-20.) 9/13

FN116. 2 Elliot’s Debates, pp. 416-17.
FN117. Id., pp. 417, 434, 442, 443, 451, 453, 486, 494, 542, 546.
FN118. Id., pp. 418-529.
FN119. Id., p. 451. 10/13

FN120. Constitution of the United States, “Adoption of Constitution,” West’s Annotated Indiana Code, Constitution,” (1999), p. 29; 1 Elliot’s Debates, p. 320.
FN121. “The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution, Vol III,” (1978), p. 127. 11/13

FN122. New Jersey’s Ante-Revolutionary history, (1 Elliot’s pp. 36-38) its commissioners at Annapolis Convention, (Id., pp. 116-20) credentials of its delegates to Philadelphia, (Id., pp. 128-29) and report to Congress of its 12/12/1787 ratification. (Id., pp. 320-21.) 12/13

FN123. See, report to Congress of ratification. Id., pp. 320-21.
FN124. See, Ante-Revolutionary history, (Id., pp. 36-38) commissioners at Annapolis Convention, (Id., pp. 116-20) credentials of its delegates to Philadelphia, (Id., pp. 128-29). 13/13