Malcolm Rivera
The idea of a written constitution was popularised by the American Constitution, but the first modern state to adopt a written constitution was the English Protectorate set up by Oliver Cromwell after the English Civil War. This constitution was called the Instrument of Government and was drafted by Major-General John Lambert in 1653. It included elements from an earlier document, the Heads of Proposals, which had been agreed to by the Army Council in 1647. The first country to adopt a written constitution was India, with the Edicts of Ashoka establishing constitutional principles for the 3rd century BC Maurya king's rule.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First country to adopt a written constitution | USA |
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What You'll Learn
- The USA was the first country to adopt a written constitution
- The English Protectorate's 'Instrument of Government' was the first detailed written constitution
- Poland was the second country to adopt a written constitution
- France went through four constitutions in the 1790s
- The Edicts of Ashoka established constitutional principles for the 3rd century BC Maurya king's rule in India
The USA was the first country to adopt a written constitution
Poland adopted its first written constitution in 1791, followed by France later that year. Many 19th-century changes of government were marked by the adoption of written constitutions, some of which are still in existence today. The European Revolutions of 1848 produced dozens of new constitutions, though few of them lasted.
The English Protectorate set up by Oliver Cromwell after the English Civil War promulgated the first detailed written constitution adopted by a modern state. It was called the Instrument of Government and formed the basis of government for the short-lived republic from 1653 to 1657.
The Edicts of Ashoka established constitutional principles for the 3rd century BC Maurya king's rule in India. Many of the Germanic peoples that filled the power vacuum left by the Western Roman Empire in the Early Middle Ages codified their laws. One of the first of these Germanic law codes to be written was the Visigothic Code of Euric (471 AD).
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The English Protectorate's 'Instrument of Government' was the first detailed written constitution
The English Protectorates Instrument of Government was the first detailed written constitution adopted by a modern state. It was set up by Oliver Cromwell after the English Civil War and formed the basis of government for the short-lived republic from 1653 to 1657. The Instrument of Government provided a legal rationale for the increasing power of Cromwell after Parliament consistently failed to govern effectively.
The Instrument of Government included elements incorporated from an earlier document, "Heads of Proposals", which had been agreed to by the Army Council in 1647. It was drafted by Major-General John Lambert in 1653 and included concepts and ideas embedded into modern constitutional theory, especially bicameralism, separation of powers, the written constitution, and judicial review.
The practice of a written constitution began in early colonial America, and the USA is often credited as the first country to adopt a written constitution. However, Poland adopted its first written constitution in 1791, followed by France later that year. Many 19th-century changes of government were marked by the adoption of written constitutions, and the European Revolutions of 1848 produced dozens of new constitutions.
Looking further back in history, the Edicts of Ashoka established constitutional principles for the 3rd-century BC Maurya king's rule in India. In the Early Middle Ages, many Germanic peoples that filled the power vacuum left by the Western Roman Empire codified their laws. One of the first of these Germanic law codes to be written was the Visigothic Code of Euric (471 AD).
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Poland was the second country to adopt a written constitution
The USA was the first country to adopt a written constitution, with the practice of a written constitution beginning in early colonial America. The English Protectorate set up by Oliver Cromwell after the English Civil War also promulgated the first detailed written constitution adopted by a modern state, called the Instrument of Government. This formed the basis of government for the short-lived republic from 1653 to 1657.
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France went through four constitutions in the 1790s
The US was the first country to adopt a written constitution, although the practice of a written constitution began in early colonial America. The English Protectorate set up by Oliver Cromwell after the English Civil War also promulgated the first detailed written constitution adopted by a modern state, called the Instrument of Government. This formed the basis of government for the short-lived republic from 1653 to 1657.
Poland adopted its first written constitution in 1791, followed by France later that year. France went through four constitutions in the 1790s alone. The first French constitution of 1791 was drafted by the National Assembly and was a constitutional monarchy. It was short-lived, however, as the monarchy was abolished in September 1792. The second constitution was written in 1793 and was a republican document. It was ratified by a National Convention and included a Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. The third constitution was written in 1795 and was known as the Constitution of the Year III. It established a bicameral legislature and an executive directory. The fourth and final constitution of the 1790s was written in 1799 and was known as the Constitution of the Year VIII. It established a consulate with Napoleon Bonaparte as First Consul.
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The Edicts of Ashoka established constitutional principles for the 3rd century BC Maurya king's rule in India
The first country to adopt a written constitution was the USA, with the American Constitution. The idea of a single written constitution then became popular around the world, with Poland and France adopting their first written constitutions in 1791.
The Edicts of Ashoka, dating back to the 3rd century BC, established constitutional principles for the Maurya king's rule in India. Ashoka was the third king of the Mauryan Empire, which stretched from modern-day Iran through almost the entirety of the Indian subcontinent. Ashoka was a talented military leader and statesman, and his rule was characterised by a policy of peaceful co-existence. He is remembered as a model ruler, controlling a vast and diverse empire through peace and respect, with dharma at the centre of his ideology. Ashoka's edicts were inscribed on large rocks and pillars, allowing him to reach a wide audience and leave a lasting historical record. They are thought to have provided the first constitutional checks against environmental degradation and animal cruelty.
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Frequently asked questions
The USA was the first country to adopt a written constitution.
The first detailed written constitution adopted by a modern state was the English Protectorate set up by Oliver Cromwell after the English Civil War. It was called the Instrument of Government.
Poland adopted its first written constitution in 1791, followed by France later that year.
The Edicts of Ashoka established constitutional principles for the 3rd century BC Maurya king's rule in India. The Germanic peoples that filled the power vacuum left by the Western Roman Empire in the Early Middle Ages also codified their laws, with the Visigothic Code of Euric (471 AD) being one of the first.
