 In 1841, activists led by Thomas W. Dorr organized an extralegal convention to draft a state constitution, arguing that the charter government violated the Guarantee Clause in Article Four, Section Four of the United States Constitution.In 1842, the charter government and Dorr's supporters held separate elections, and two rival governments claimed sovereignty over the state.Dorr's supporters led an armed rebellion against the charter government, and Dorr was arrested and imprisoned for treason against the state.