Nevada's First Constitution: Why Did It Fail?

did nevadas first constitution fail

Nevada's first constitution was created in 1864, but it was not the first attempt to establish a constitution for the state. The first constitutional convention was held in 1863, but the resulting document was not ratified by the voters of Nevada Territory and was not authorised by the US. The 1863 convention was authorised only by the Nevada Territorial Legislature and did not have the sanction of Congress. The 1864 convention, which took place in Carson City, was based on the 1863 document and resulted in a constitution that remains in effect today.

Characteristics Values
Date of first constitutional convention 1863
Date of first constitution 1864
Date of statehood 1864
Date of first state election September 1863
Date of first state constitutional convention 2 November 1863
Duration of first state constitutional convention 32 days
Presider of first state constitutional convention John W. North
Secretary of first state constitutional convention William M. Gillespie
Size of first constitution 44 handwritten 17 x 24 inch pages
Date of first constitution's approval 1864
Basis for first constitution 1849 founding document of California
Name of state Nevada

cycivic

The 1863 convention was not ratified by voters

The 1863 Nevada Constitutional Convention was not ratified by voters. The convention, which lasted 32 days, was presided over by John W. North, with William M. Gillespie serving as secretary. The First State Constitutional Convention was authorized only by the Nevada Territorial Legislature and did not have the sanction of Congress.

The final version of the 1863 Constitutional Convention was voted down by the voters of Nevada Territory. However, it was used as a starting point for the 1864 Constitutional Convention, with additions in red ink indicating changes to be adopted in the new constitution. The 1864 convention took place on July 4 in Carson City, and the resulting constitution remains in effect today.

The 1864 Nevada Constitution was based on the 1849 founding document of neighbouring California. The 44 handwritten 17 x 24 inch pages were signed by secretary William M. Gillespie and members of the Nevada Constitutional Convention.

The 1863 convention had been approved by 80% of voters in a September election, but the question of whether to frame a constitution for the "State of Washoe" proved controversial. The delegates did not consider the name a given, and eventually, the name "Nevada" was approved.

cycivic

The 1863 convention was not authorised by the US

Nevada's first constitution was created in 1864, but its first constitutional convention was held in 1863. The 1863 convention was not authorised by the US, as it was only approved by the Nevada Territorial Legislature and did not have the sanction of Congress. The document produced at the 1863 convention was not ratified by the voters of Nevada Territory.

The 1863 convention was held over 32 days, beginning on 2 November 1863, and was presided over by John W. North, with William M. Gillespie serving as secretary. The convention was authorised by an election held in September 1863, in which 80% of voters approved the question of whether to frame a constitution for the "State of Washoe". However, the delegates did not consider the name a given, and eventually, the name "Nevada" was approved.

The 1863 convention served as a starting point for the 1864 convention, with additions in red ink indicating changes to be adopted in the new constitution. The 1864 convention took place on 4 July in Carson City, and the resulting constitution remains in effect today.

cycivic

The 1864 convention was based on the 1849 California constitution

Nevada's first constitution was created in 1864, at a convention held on 4 July in Carson City. This was based on the 1863 convention, which was voted down by the voters of Nevada Territory. The 1863 convention was not authorised by the US, but the 1864 convention was, and it was based on the 1849 California constitution.

The 1849 California constitution was approved and published in both English and Spanish. It was the result of the 1849 California Constitutional Convention, which took place in September and October 1849, and was ratified on 13 November 1849. The convention was held in advance of California attaining US statehood the following year. The 44 handwritten pages of the 1849 California constitution were used as a basis for the 1864 Nevada convention, which also had 44 pages.

cycivic

The 1864 convention was held in Carson City

The 1864 convention was based on the 1849 founding document of neighbouring California. The 44 handwritten 17 x 24 inch pages of the constitution were signed by secretary William M. Gillespie and members of the Nevada Constitutional Convention. The original constitution approved for Nevada in 1864 remains in effect today.

The act creating the convention referred to the "State of Washoe" in the title and body of the act. However, the delegates did not consider the name a given and eventually the name "Nevada" was approved.

cycivic

The 1864 convention was presided over by John W. North

Nevada's first constitution was created in 1864, but the 1863 convention that preceded it produced a document that was not ratified by the voters of Nevada Territory. The 1864 convention was presided over by John W. North, with William M. Gillespie serving as secretary. The convention began on 2 November 1863 and lasted 32 days. The original 1864 constitution remains in effect today.

The 1863 convention was not authorised by the US, and the 1864 convention was based on the 1849 founding document of neighbouring California. The 44 handwritten 17 x 24 inch pages were signed by Gillespie and members of the Nevada Constitutional Convention.

The 1864 convention was held on 4 July in Carson City. There was a spirited contest over the naming of the state, with the act creating the convention referring to the "State of Washoe". However, the delegates did not consider this a given, and eventually the name "Nevada" was approved.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. The first constitution was not ratified by the voters of Nevada Territory and was not authorized by the U.S.

The First State Constitutional Convention was authorized only by the Nevada Territorial Legislature and did not have the sanction of Congress.

The final version of the 1863 Constitutional Convention was used as a starting point for the 1864 Constitutional Convention, with changes to be adopted in the new constitution indicated in red ink.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment