Admission into the Union Introductory Material

The circumstances surrounding Tennessee’s admission to the Union were unique. No other state had faced such determined opposition or had a close call on its admission as Tennessee. First, the Federal Government had never admitted a territory under the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Secondly, due to it being an election year, a power struggle between the Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans also complicated matters.

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 asserted any territory which possessed 60,000 free inhabitants could be admitted to the Union. It should be mentioned when the Constitution of the United States was later ratified it did not change this precedence for admission but rather stated in general terms: “New States may be admitted by Congress into this Union.” Also, another phrase in the Constitution was construed regarding admission - a state’s constitution should be republican. The Southwest Territory prepared for admission based on these conditions by conducting a census and creating a functioning constitution.

With an active constitution, John Sevier and members of the legislature were elected in March of 1796. They proceeded to pass laws and create new counties; Montgomery and Robertson replaced Tennessee County since the new state would take the name Tennessee. William Blount, the Governor of the Southwest Territory, was elected along with William Cocke to represent Tennessee in the United States Senate. And finally, four electors were chosen to participate in the upcoming presidential election. President Washington sent a printed copy of Tennessee’s constitution and a report on the census returns to Congress for approval on April 8, 1796.

In seeking statehood, Tennessee became embroiled in the political turmoil of the 1796 election. Congress was divided with the Federalists holding the Senate and the Jeffersonian Republicans the House. Therefore, the Federalists were fearful of the Jeffersonians gaining majority if Tennessee was admitted as a state. They argued against admission on several accounts; First, only Congress should initiate the statehood process. Secondly, the census although taken by officials, was not valid since it was not directed or supervised by Congress. Thirdly, the Tennessee Constitution was faulty and conflicted with the Federal Constitution. However, on June 1, 1796, Tennessee was admitted as the sixteenth state.