The fifth Virginia Convention, renounces its royal charter, by promulgating its first Constitution, the Preamble of which states:  

       Whereas George the third, King of Great Britain and Ireland, and elector of Hanover, heretofore intrusted [sic] with the exercise of the kingly office in this government, hath endeavoured to prevent, the same into a detestable and insupportable tyranny, by putting his negative on laws the most wholesome and necessary for the public good;

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       By dissolving legislative Assemblies repeatedly and continually, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions of the rights of the people;

       When dissolved, by refusing to call others for a long space of time, thereby leaving the political system without any legislative head;

       By endeavouring to prevent the population of our country, and, for that purpose, obstructing, the laws for the naturalization of foreigners;

       By keeping among us, in times of peace, standing armies and ships of war;

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       For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us;

       For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world;

       For imposing taxes on us without our consent;

       For depriving us of the benefits of trial by jury;

       For transporting us beyond seas, to be tried for pretended offences;

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       For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever;

       By plundering our seas, ravaging our coasts, burning our towns, and destroying the lives of our people;

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       By transporting, at this time, a large army of foreign mercenaries, to complete the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy unworthy the head of a civilized nation;

       By answering our repeated petitions for redress with a repetition of injuries;

        And finally, by abandoning the helm of government and declaring us out of his allegiance and protection.  By which several acts of misrule, the government of this country, as formerly exercised under the crown of Great Britain, is TOTALLY DISSOLVED.  We therefore, the delegates and representatives of the good people of Virginia, having maturely considered the premises, and viewing with great concern the deplorable conditions to which this once happy country must be reduced, unless some regular, adequate mode of civil polity is speedily adopted, and in compliance with a recommendation of the General Congress, do ordain and declare the future form of government of Virginia to be as followeth. [emphasis in the original]

       The convention also inaugurates Patrick Henry as Virginia’s first elected governor. 

       [updated 11/10/2024]