The First Missouri Constitution: A Lengthy Historical Document

Missouri's first constitution was drafted in 1820 in just 38 days. The territory of Missouri first applied for statehood in 1817 and was admitted as the 24th state in 1821. The first constitution was written by a convention of 40 men from 15 Missouri counties and was in effect from 1821 to 1865, when the second constitution became effective.

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The first Missouri Constitution was drafted in 38 days

The first constitution was one of the results of the Missouri Compromise, and Missouri was initially admitted to the Union as a slave state. The constitution specifically excluded "free negroes and mulattoes" from the state. It was in effect from 1821 to 1865, when the second constitution became effective.

Missouri has had four constitutions over its two centuries of statehood, reflecting the changes that the nation as a whole has gone through over time. The territory of Missouri first applied for statehood in 1817 and was considered for the opportunity to become the 23rd or 24th state in the Union two years later.

It was drafted in 1820 and was in effect from 1821 to 1865

The first Missouri Constitution was drafted in 1820 and was in effect from 1821 to 1865. It was written in only 38 days and was adopted on July 19, 1820. The territory of Missouri first applied for statehood in 1817 and was considered for the opportunity to become the 23rd state in the Union two years later. The first Missouri Constitutional Convention assembled in St. Louis on June 12, 1820, and was made up of 40 men from 15 Missouri counties. The assembly elected David Barton, one of eight delegates representing St. Louis County, as president of the convention. The first constitution began with a preamble mirroring that of the country's, written 33 years before: "We, the people of Missouri, inhabiting the limits hereinafter designated". Missouri became the 24th state in 1821. The first constitution was in effect until 1865, when the second constitution became effective.

The first convention was made up of 40 men from 15 Missouri counties

The first Missouri Constitution was drafted in 1820 in 38 days. It was in effect from 1821 to 1865, when the second constitution became effective. The first convention was made up of 40 men from 15 Missouri counties. The convention met in the Mansion House Hotel in St. Louis, beginning on June 12. The assembly elected David Barton, one of eight delegates representing St. Louis County, as president of the convention on the first day. William Pettus of St. Charles County, who would go on to serve as Missouri's secretary of state from 1821 to 1824, oversaw the proceedings as the convention's secretary.

The first constitution was one of the results of the Missouri Compromise. Missouri was initially admitted to the Union as a slave state, and the constitution specifically excluded "free negroes and mulattoes" from the state. The territory of Missouri first applied for statehood in 1817 and was considered for the opportunity to become the 23rd state in the Union two years later. Congress considered a bill that would have allowed the territory to frame a state constitution, and a representative from New York added an amendment to disallow the introduction of slavery in Missouri beyond what was already present and emancipate those slaves already in the territory at age 25. However, the amendment failed in the Senate after extensive debate across the aisle over the issue of slavery, and Congress adjourned without resolving the question of Missouri's statehood.

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The territory of Missouri first applied for statehood in 1817

On June 12, 1820, the first Missouri Constitutional Convention assembled in St. Louis. The convention was made up of 40 men from 15 Missouri counties, and they met in the Mansion House Hotel in St. Louis. The convention elected David Barton, one of eight delegates representing St. Louis County, as president. William Pettus of St. Charles County, who later served as Missouri's secretary of state from 1821 to 1824, oversaw the proceedings as the convention's secretary.

The convention met for 38 days to establish the foundation of Missouri's government before approving the document on July 19, 1820. The first constitution mirrored the preamble of the country's constitution, written 33 years earlier. It specifically excluded "free negroes and mulattoes" from the state and allowed for the introduction of slavery. Missouri became the 24th state in 1821, and the first constitution was in effect from 1821 to 1865.

The first constitution specifically excluded free negroes and mulattoes from the state

The first Missouri Constitution was drafted in 1820 in 38 days, and was in effect from 1821 to 1865. The territory of Missouri first applied for statehood in 1817 and was considered for the opportunity to become the 23rd state in the Union two years later. The first constitution was written by a convention of 40 men from 15 Missouri counties. The convention met over the next 38 days to establish the foundation of Missouri's government before approving the document on July 19, 1820. The first constitution specifically excluded free negroes and mulattoes from the state. This was one of the results of the Missouri Compromise, as Missouri was initially admitted to the Union as a slave state. The amendment to the constitution that would have disallowed the introduction of slavery in Missouri beyond what was already present and emancipated slaves in the territory at age 25 failed in the Senate after extensive debate across the aisle over the issue of slavery.

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