Simone Lawson
South Carolina's first constitution was adopted in 1776, and it has since adopted six more. The first governmental framework for the state was the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina, written in 1669 by the lead colonial proprietor Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, and his secretary John Locke. The 1669 Fundamental Constitutions framed the colony as a social hierarchy, encouraging new settlement based on landownership and a provision for religious freedom. South Carolina's state constitution of 1778 created new rules at the opposite end of the political spectrum from Pennsylvania. In South Carolina, white men had to possess a significant amount of property to vote, and they had to own even more property to be allowed to run for political office. The South Carolina delegation played an active role at the 1787 constitutional convention in Philadelphia, where they helped to broker numerous compromises and ensured that the final document would serve the state’s economic interests, especially slavery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Encouraged new settlement | Based on landownership |
| Provided for religious freedom | Except for Catholics |
| Created a social hierarchy | |
| Created rules for voting and running for political office | White men had to possess a significant amount of property to vote and even more to run for office |
| Influenced the colonial Commons House of Assembly | Became the significant governing body of the colony |
| Secured protections for slave property | |
| Continued the slave trade for at least 20 years | |
| Ensured the return of fugitive slaves | |
| Based representation in the U.S. House of Representatives on the number of free people and three-fifths the number of slaves |
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What You'll Learn
- The 1669 Fundamental Constitutions framed the colony as a social hierarchy, encouraging settlement based on landownership and religious freedom
- The 1778 constitution created new rules at the opposite end of the political spectrum from Pennsylvania
- South Carolina's 1787 delegation played an active role in the constitutional convention in Philadelphia, ensuring the final document served the state's economic interests, especially slavery
- South Carolina Patriots rallied to support the American Revolution in 1775, outraged over British tax policies that violated their constitutional right to no taxation without representation
- The first governmental framework for what is now the State of South Carolina was the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina, written in 1669 by Anthony Ashley Cooper and his secretary John Locke
The 1669 Fundamental Constitutions framed the colony as a social hierarchy, encouraging settlement based on landownership and religious freedom
South Carolina's first constitution, the 1669 Fundamental Constitutions, framed the colony as a social hierarchy, encouraging settlement based on landownership and religious freedom. The Fundamental Constitutions were written by the lead colonial proprietor Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, and his secretary John Locke. They were influenced by philosophers such as James Harrington, who espoused religious toleration (except for Catholics) and the establishment of a system of government based on landownership.
The Fundamental Constitutions allowed for new settlement based on landownership and provided for religious freedom. This encouraged people to settle in the colony, as they could own land and practice their religion freely. The constitution also inspired the colonial Commons House of Assembly, which became the significant governing body of the colony.
South Carolina's state constitution of 1778 created new rules that required white men to possess a significant amount of property to vote and even more property to run for political office. This constitution was created at a critical turning point in the state's history, as it was adopted after the state entered the federal union.
South Carolina Patriots were outraged over British tax policies in the 1760s that violated what they saw as their constitutional right to "no taxation without representation". When the British attacked Lexington and Concord in the spring of 1775 and were beaten back by the Massachusetts Patriots, South Carolina Patriots rallied to support the American Revolution.
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The 1778 constitution created new rules at the opposite end of the political spectrum from Pennsylvania
South Carolina's first constitution was adopted in 1776, with a second following in 1778. The 1778 constitution created new rules at the opposite end of the political spectrum from Pennsylvania. In South Carolina, white men had to possess a significant amount of property to vote, and even more to run for political office. This was in stark contrast to Pennsylvania's new design, which was described by John Adams as being "so democratical that it must produce confusion and every evil work".
The South Carolina constitution of 1778 was a response to British tax policies in the 1760s, which South Carolinians believed violated their constitutional right to "no taxation without representation". This outrage led to South Carolina's leaders joining eleven other colonies (except Georgia) in forming the Continental Congress.
The South Carolina delegation played an active role at the 1787 constitutional convention in Philadelphia. They helped to broker numerous compromises and ensured that the final document would serve the state's economic interests, especially slavery. They secured protections for slave property, the continuation of the slave trade for at least twenty years, and the return of fugitive slaves.
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South Carolina's 1787 delegation played an active role in the constitutional convention in Philadelphia, ensuring the final document served the state's economic interests, especially slavery
South Carolina's first constitution was adopted in 1776, and it has since adopted six more. The 1778 constitution created new rules that were at the opposite end of the political spectrum from Pennsylvania. In South Carolina, white men had to possess a significant amount of property to vote, and they had to own even more property to be allowed to run for political office.
South Carolina's 1787 delegation played an active role in the constitutional convention in Philadelphia. Politically experienced and influential, Charles Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Pierce Butler, and John Rutledge helped to broker numerous compromises and ensured that the final document would serve the state's economic interests, especially slavery. They secured protections for slave property, the continuation of the slave trade for at least twenty years, and the return of fugitive slaves. In addition, representation in the U.S. House of Representatives would be based on the number of free people and three-fifths the number of slaves. The South Carolina delegation was also unanimous in supporting provisions that prohibited states from impairing the obligation of contracts.
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South Carolina Patriots rallied to support the American Revolution in 1775, outraged over British tax policies that violated their constitutional right to no taxation without representation
South Carolina's first constitution was written in 1669 by the lead colonial proprietor, Anthony Ashley Cooper, the 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, and his secretary, John Locke. The constitution was revised several times until it was abandoned in 1698. It framed the colony as a social hierarchy, encouraging new settlement based on landownership and a provision for religious freedom.
In the 1760s, South Carolina was outraged over British tax policies that violated what they saw as their constitutional right to "no taxation without representation". Merchants joined the boycott against buying British products. When the London government harshly punished Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party, South Carolina's leaders joined eleven other colonies (except Georgia) in forming the Continental Congress.
In 1776, South Carolina adopted its first state constitution. In 1778, the state constitution created new rules at the opposite end of the political spectrum from Pennsylvania. In South Carolina, white men had to possess a significant amount of property to vote, and they had to own even more property to be allowed to run for political office.
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The first governmental framework for what is now the State of South Carolina was the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina, written in 1669 by Anthony Ashley Cooper and his secretary John Locke
The first governmental framework for what is now the State of South Carolina was the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina, written in 1669 by the lead colonial proprietor Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, and his secretary John Locke. The Fundamental Constitutions were influenced by philosophers such as James Harrington and espoused religious toleration (except for Catholics) and a system of government based on land ownership.
The Fundamental Constitutions framed the colony as a social hierarchy, encouraging new settlement based on land ownership and a provision for religious freedom. It also inspired the colonial Commons House of Assembly, which became the significant governing body of the colony.
South Carolina's first state constitution was adopted in 1776, and since then, it has adopted six more: in 1778, 1790, 1861, 1865, 1868, and 1895. The constitution of 1778 created new rules at the opposite end of the political spectrum from Pennsylvania: in South Carolina, white men had to possess a significant amount of property to vote, and they had to own even more property to be allowed to run for political office.
South Carolina's leaders joined eleven other colonies (except Georgia) in forming the Continental Congress after the British attacked Lexington and Concord in the spring of 1775 and were beaten back by the Massachusetts Patriots. South Carolina Patriots rallied to support the American Revolution, outraged over British tax policies in the 1760s that violated what they saw as their constitutional right to "no taxation without representation".
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Frequently asked questions
The Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina.
Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury and his secretary John Locke.
Religious toleration (except for Catholics) and establishing a system of government based on ownership of land.
