Who opposed the Constitutional Convention and did not attend?

Answer 1

Rhode Island refused to send a delegate to the Philadelphia (or Constitutional) Convention in 1787. Patrick Henry, who would have been Rhode Island's delegate, was suspicious of the real purpose of the meeting and did not attend.

The decision was not made in opposition to the Constitution itself, because the US Constitution hadn't been proposed, let alone written, yet. The First Continental Congress had authorized the 1787 Convention to allow delegates address weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation, but many people, like Patrick Henry, feared the proposed solutions would shift power away from the states and to the central government (which is exactly what happened).

Patrick Henry(apex)

Answer 2

Not all of the Founding Fathers attended the Constitutional Convention. Most were simply unavailable or serving abroad. However, Patrick Henry chose to skip the Convention specifically to express his displeasure.

Answer 3

Patrick Henry

Answer 4

Patrick Henry!