Beginning in 1849, the Oregon Territorial Legislature began meeting and passing laws, with the Provisional Government's laws remaining in effect unless a new law was passed (except a law allowing for minting of money that was set aside by the first territorial governor). In 1857, the people of the territory passed a resolution to hold a convention to draft a constitution in order to achieve statehood. The Oregon Constitutional Convention was held in Salem during the summer of 1857, and created Oregon's first constitution. Oregon submitted the constitution to Congress, and on February 14, 1859, Oregon became a state.