Pdf the constitution of the confederate states of america, 1861. The confederate states constitution, formally the constitution of the confederate states of america, was the supreme law of the confederate states, as adopted. Constitution of the confederate states of america what was. No person except a naturalborn citizen of the confederate states or a citizen thereof at the time of the adoption of this constitution, or a citizen thereof born in the united states prior to the. Article ii of the confederate states constitution vested the executive power of the confederacy in the president. On this day, the confederate constitution is approved national.
The confederate states of americas supreme law was the constitution of the confederate states of america csa adopted on march 11, 1861, and in effect through the conclusion of the american civil war. The president also headed the executive branch of government and was commanderinchief of the army and navy, and of the militia of the several states when called into confederate service. President of the confederate states of america wikipedia. The constitution included the same rights as in the first amendment, applying it to the confederacy, not the states, in keeping with the supreme courts views in barron v. Although the constitution of the confederate states of america 1861 largely follows the outline of the u. Unlike the united states constitution, the confederate constitution gave the president the ability to subject a bill to a line item veto, a power also held by some state governors. Constitution of the provisional government of the confederate states of america montgomery, al. Constitution of the provisional government of the confederate states of america. Constitution of the confederate states of america by confederate states of america. In the momentous step which our state has taken of dissolving its connection with the government of which we so long formed a part, it is but just that we should. The president of the confederate states was the elected head of state and government of the confederate states.
In montgomery, alabama, delegates from south carolina, mississippi, florida, alabama, georgia, louisiana, and texas adopt the permanent constitution of the confederate states of. Confederate states of america constitution and laws ebay. Constitution, it differs from it in a number of ways. We the people of the united states, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the united states of america.
Constitution as a guide and most of them had been heavily involved in the government before the separation of the states. It was completed on march 11, 1861, with its adoption by the constitutional convention in montgomery, alabama, and was later ratified by. Constitution of the confederate states of america, which was unanimously adopted by the confederate congress on march 11, 1861. All legislative powersherein delegated shall be vested in a congress of the confederate states, which shall consist ofa senate and iloase ofrepresentatives. By the end of that year, states had ratified the new constitution. Tlie house of representatives shall be composed of memberschosen every second yearby the people of the. A revolutionary document then as now, its writers and supporters hoped the cs constitution would continue the. An excellent place to learn just how the csa constitution came to be. Constitution of the confederate states of america the u. We, the people of the confederate states, each state acting in its sovereign and independent character, in order to form a permanent federal government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterityinvoking the favor and guidance of almighty goddo ordain and.
Constitution ended the importation of slaves after 1808, the confederate constitution simply forbade it. The confederacy also operated under a provisional constitution from february 8, 1861 to march 11, 1861. Permanent constitution of the confederate states of. It was completed on march 11, 1861, with its adoption by the constitutional convention in montgomery, alabama, and was later ratified by secession conventions in each state. Constitution of the provisional government of the confederate states. The complete constitution of the confederate states of america and the confederate states of america declaration of the immediate causes which induce and justify the secession of south carolina from the federal union. For the permanent constitution, see constitution of the confederate states of america, reprinted in statutes at large, supra note 5, at 11, 1123. The prompt and almost unanimous ratification, by five of. We, the people of the confederate states, each state acting in its sovereign. Constitution of the confederate states of america what. The document consists of five vellum sheets pasted together and rolled, signed by howell cobb, president of the congress and delegates from alabama, florida, georgia, louisiana, mississippi. The constitution of the confederate states of america. Stolicki and others published the constitution of the confederate states of america, 1861 find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. The document consists of five vellum sheets pasted together and rolled, signed by howell cobb, president of the congress and delegates from alabama, florida, georgia, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, and texas.
Constitution of the confederate states of america, 1861. We, the people of the united states, in order to form a more per fect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the gen eral welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our pos terity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the united states of america. To obtain concurrence of other southern states, interstate commissioners have. What the confederate states constitution says about slavery. Our nation has experienced times of joy, times of inhumanity, times of sorrow and times of. The government established by this constitution is the successor of the provisional government of the confederate states of america, and all the laws passed by the latter shall continue in force until the same shall be repealed or modified. Constitution of the confederate states of america the. You will be amazed as to how alike they really were. The constitution for the confederate states of america was the supreme law of the confederate states of america. The constitution of the confederate states of america, 1861 summary the confederate constitution of 1861 has been an important development in american constitutional law. Confederate constitution includes reference to god. The writers of this document, of course, had the u. If the day ever came when slavery was eliminated voluntarily throughout the united states of america, not one word of the united states constitution would need to be changed, whereas slavery could never lawfully be abolished under the confederate states constitution. This document followed the same format as the united states constitution and in many cases quoted it verbatim.
Mar 19, 2018 the constitution for the confederate states of america was the supreme law of the confederate states of america. The confederacy made a number of changes to the original. The confederacys approach to the bill of rights, and specifically the first amendment, is noteworthy. The cornerstone speech, also known as the cornerstone address, was delivered extemporaneously by confederate vice president alexander stephens in savannah, georgia on march 21, 1861. The csa, prior to the constitutions passage, operated under a provisional constitution from february 8, 1861 to march 11, 1861. The collection consists of the original signed manuscript of the permanent constitution of the confederate states of america, adopted on march 11, 1861. Shorter and reid, printers, 1861, by confederate states of america multiple formats at page images at hathitrust. The confederate states constitution, formally the constitution of the confederate states of america, was the supreme law of the confederate states, as adopted on march 11, 1861, and in effect from february 22, 1862, through the conclusion of the american civil war. Constitution of the confederate states of america, 1861 idca. Constitution of the confederate states of america we, the people of the confederate states, each state acting in its sovereign and independent character, in order to form a permanent federal government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterityinvoking the favor and guidance of almighty goddo ordain and establish this. Avalon project confederate states of america constitution.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading constitution of the confederate states of america. Constitution of the confederate states of america mar. Constitution, with notable exceptions, some of which are excerpted here. We, the deputies of the sovereign and independent states of south carolina, georgia, florida, alabama, mississippi, and louisiana, invoking the favor of almighty god, do hereby, in behalf of these states, ordain and establish this constitution for the provisional government of the same. The csa constitution and the us constitution are remarkably or perhaps not so remarkably similar. Read first, second, and third times and engrossed, and unanimously adopted. The constitution of the united states preamble we the people of the united states, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do. This version of the csa constitution is clearly marked to show the differences between it and the us constitution.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. On this day, the confederate constitution is approved. The confederate states of america american civil war. Constitution of the provisional government of the confederate.
The power included the execution of law, alongside the responsibility of appointing executive, diplomatic, regulatory and judicial officers, and concluding treaties with foreign powers with the advice and consent of the senate. The permanent constitution provided for a president of the confederate states of america, elected to serve a sixyear term but without the possibility of reelection. Constitution of the confederate states of america transcription. On march 11, 1861, the confederate states of america adopted the confederate states constitution. Some of the larger disparities deal with states rights and slavery. Confederate states of america mississippi secession a declaration of the immediate causes which induce and justify the secession of the state of mississippi from the federal union. What the confederate states constitution says about. The permanent constitution of the confederate states of america. The confederacys approach to the bill of rights, and.
In broad outline, the confederate constitution is an amended u. Confederate states of america collection selected special. A convention of the states for the purpose of considering amendments to the constitution shall only be called when at least five of the original eleven confederate states together with other states totaling ten, legally assembled in their several conventions, demand a convention, or on the application of the congress, whenever three fourths of. Constitution of the confederate states of america what was changed. Confederate states of america constitution for the. Constitution of the confederate states of america the first. The constitution of the confederate states of america was written when southern states seceded from the union.
We, the people of the confederate states, each state acting in its sovereign and independent character, in order to form a permanent federal government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity invoking the favor and guidance of almighty god. Confederate states of america quotes author of constitution. Jan 06, 20 the confederate states of america s supreme law was the constitution of the confederate states of america csa adopted on march 11, 1861, and in effect through the conclusion of the american civil war. Constitution of the confederate states of america even if the truck driver says he will spend for the damage or if the injuries seem to be minor, get in touch with the police straight away in. Confederate states constitution amendments confederate. The constitution of the confederate states of america was the supreme law of the confederate states of america, as adopted on march 11, 1861, and in effect through the conclusion of the american civil war. Constitution of the confederate states of america kc lawyer. Confederate states of america agreed on their own constitution. The constitution of the confederate states of america states, the confederate, states, the confederate, rothmiller, mike on. Aug 06, 2015 if the day ever came when slavery was eliminated voluntarily throughout the united states of america, not one word of the united states constitution would need to be changed, whereas slavery could never lawfully be abolished under the confederate states constitution. Constitution of the confederate states of america, which.
Difference between confederate and union constitution. Constitution of the confederate states of america preamble we, the people of the confederate states, each state acting in its sovereign and independent character, in order to form a permanent federal government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity invoking the favor and guidance of almighty god do ordain. The constitution of the confederate states of america, 1861. The confederacy also operated under a provisional constitution from february 8. Confederate states of america declaration of the immediate causes which induce and justify the secession of south carolina from the federal union the people of the state of south carolina, in convention assembled, on the 26th day of april, a. The constitution of the confederate states of america is presented for comparison purposes. The speech explained what the differences were between the constitution of the confederate republic and that of the united states, laid out the confederate causes. The confederate constitution legally protected slavery in all confederate states and new territories that could have been acquired by the confederacy, stating that in all such territory, the institution of negro slavery as it now exists in the confederate states, shall be recognized and protected by congress, and by the territorial. Also available in digital form on the library of congress web site. Constitution of the confederate states of america kindle. The next month, the constitution of the confederate states of america was proposed, and subsequently approved. The montgomery government took up the business of constitution making in the first two weeks of march 1861.
Be it ordained by the congress of the confederate states of america, that the second paragraph of the first section of the third article of the constitution of the confederate states of america be so amended in the first line of said paragraph as to read, each state shall, until otherwise enacted by law, constitute a district. And much of it mirrored the constitution of the united states as it existed at. Constitution of the confederate states of america even if the truck driver says he will spend for the damage or if the injuries seem to be minor, get in touch with the police straight away in order to file a report. The csa, prior to the constitution s passage, operated under a provisional constitution from february 8, 1861 to march 11, 1861. Here is a look at this littleknown third constitution that controlled the lives of about 9 million people for a short period of time. Description patterned on the constitution of the united states of america, the constitution of the confederate states of america was written during february and march 1861 by a committee of twelve southern political leaders, whose states had recently seceded from the union. Constitution of the confederate states of america, which was. Constitution of the confederate states of america kindle edition by provisional government. For studies of the confederate states of america, this is a good read. Constitution for the confederate states of america. Mar 10, 2020 in montgomery, alabama, delegates from south carolina, mississippi, florida, alabama, georgia, louisiana, and texas adopt the permanent constitution of the confederate states of america. Linebyline comparison of the confederate constitution with the constitution of the united states. Montgomery weekly advertiser, april 10, 1861 montgomery was the capital of the confederacy from february, 1861, until may, 1861, after which time it was moved to richmond, va. In framing the constitution of the confederate states, the authors adopted, with numerous elisions and additions, the language of the constitution of the united states, and followed the same order of arrangement of articles and sections.
1091 1408 992 1179 62 1055 58 603 734 1473 1343 1248 1248 133 387 1209 1166 8 118 619 1413 945 633 862 358 58 784 302 775 1143