Jonah Patel
The Wyandotte Constitution, adopted in 1859, served as the foundational document for the U.S. state of Kansas, marking its admission to the Union as a free state in 1861. The constitution emerged from a contentious period in Kansas' history, characterised by the existence of dual governments and constitutions, one pro-slavery and the other anti-slavery. The Wyandotte Constitution explicitly prohibited slavery, granted homestead exemptions, and offered limited suffrage to women, embodying progressive ideals of liberty for its time. Despite resistance in the Senate, Kansas' statehood under the Wyandotte Constitution was ultimately achieved, concluding a bitter struggle over slavery in the territory and solidifying its place as the 34th state in the Union.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date drafted | July 5, 1859 - July 29, 1859 |
| Date approved | October 4, 1859 |
| Date admitted to the Union | January 29, 1861 |
| Location drafted | Lipman Meyer's Hall, Wyandotte, Kansas |
| Progressive ideas | Prohibiting slavery, granting homestead exemption, and offering limited suffrage to women |
| Suffrage | Every white male person, 21 years and upward |
| Number of amendments | Many, including a universal suffrage amendment in 1912 |
| Number of governments before the Wyandotte Constitution | 2 (pro-slavery and anti-slavery) |
| Number of constitutions proposed | 4 |
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What You'll Learn
Kansas was admitted to the Union as a free state
The Wyandotte Constitution, which immediately preceded the American Civil War, was the document under which Kansas was admitted to the Union as a free state on January 29, 1861, marking the end of five years of bitter conflict over slavery in the Kansas Territory. Kansas thus became the 34th state.
The convention drafting the constitution was held between July 5, 1859, and July 29, 1859, in the former community of Wyandotte, now part of Kansas City, Kansas. The convention abandoned the old Topeka Constitution and chose the Ohio Constitution as the model for Kansas. The Wyandotte Constitution explicitly prohibited slavery, granted a homestead exemption to protect settlers from bankruptcy, and offered limited suffrage to women.
The Kansas Territory, created in 1854, had two governments, in two different cities (Lecompton and Lawrence), with two constitutions, one pro-slavery and one anti-slavery, each claiming to be the only legitimate government of the entire territory. By the time of the convention in 1859, the issue of slavery was all but decided in the territory, so the decision to make Kansas "free" was no surprise. The Wyandotte Constitution was approved in a referendum by a vote of 10,421 to 5,530 on October 4, 1859.
In April 1860, the United States House of Representatives voted 134 to 73 to admit Kansas under the Wyandotte Constitution, but there was resistance in the Senate. As 11 slave states seceded from the Union, their senators left their seats, and on January 21, 1861, the Senate passed the Kansas bill. When President James Buchanan signed the bill approving the Wyandotte Constitution, Kansas celebrated with great joy at joining the Union.
The Wyandotte Constitution has been amended many times since its adoption, including a universal suffrage amendment in 1912, but it remains the constitution of the state of Kansas today.
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The Wyandotte Constitution prohibited slavery
The Wyandotte Constitution is the constitution of the U.S. state of Kansas. It was drafted in July 1859 and approved in a referendum in October of the same year. The constitution prohibited slavery and granted a homestead exemption to protect settlers from bankruptcy. It also offered limited voting rights to white men over the age of 21, excluding American Indians and African Americans from the voting process.
The creation of the Wyandotte Constitution was a response to the failed attempts of the Topeka, Lecompton, and Leavenworth conventions to create a state constitution that would pass Congress and be signed as a bill by the president. The Wyandotte Constitution was the fourth and final proposed Kansas constitution. It was drafted during a period of intense debate over the issue of slavery in the territory, with pro- and anti-slavery factions vying for influence. The decision to make Kansas a "free" state was a pragmatic compromise that helped to end the bitter conflict over slavery in the territory.
The convention drafting the Wyandotte Constitution was held between July 5, 1859, and July 29, 1859, in the former community of Wyandotte, which is now part of Kansas City, Kansas. The convention delegates met for three weeks and chose the Ohio Constitution as the model for Kansas, abandoning the old Topeka Constitution. One of the most hotly debated issues was over state boundaries, which at the time extended to modern-day Colorado and Nebraska. The western boundary was moved east to create a more manageable state size.
The Wyandotte Constitution was approved by a vote of 10,421 to 5,530 on October 4, 1859. In April 1860, the United States House of Representatives voted to admit Kansas under the Wyandotte Constitution, but there was resistance in the Senate due to the slavery issue. However, as 11 slave states seceded from the Union, their senators left their seats, and the Senate passed the Kansas bill on January 21, 1861. Kansas was admitted to the Union as a free state on January 29, 1861, marking the end of five years of conflict over slavery in the territory.
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It granted a homestead exemption to protect settlers from bankruptcy
The Wyandotte Constitution, drafted between July 5, 1859, and July 29, 1859, in Kansas, granted a homestead exemption to protect settlers from bankruptcy. This was a progressive idea for its time, as it aimed to protect settlers from losing their homes in the event of financial hardship.
The constitution was approved in a referendum by a vote of 10,421 to 5,530 on October 4, 1859. It was the fourth and final proposed Kansas constitution, following the failed attempts of the Topeka, Lecompton, and Leavenworth conventions to create a state constitution that would be signed into law by the president. The Wyandotte Constitution differed from previous conventions, as by mid-1859, most pro-slavery settlers had been driven out or outnumbered, and the success of the Free-State Party made the prohibition of slavery in the territory nearly a foregone conclusion.
The homestead exemption was just one of the progressive ideas expressed in the Wyandotte Constitution. It also explicitly prohibited slavery and offered limited suffrage to women, marking a significant step forward in terms of liberty and equality. However, it should be noted that the constitution only granted suffrage to "Every white male person, of twenty-one years and upward," effectively denying the vote to blacks, Indians, and women.
The approval of the Wyandotte Constitution by President James Buchanan on January 29, 1861, admitted Kansas as a state in the Union and ended five years of bitter conflict over slavery in the Kansas Territory. The constitution has been amended numerous times since its adoption but remains the constitution of the state of Kansas today.
In conclusion, the homestead exemption granted by the Wyandotte Constitution was a significant provision that protected settlers in Kansas from bankruptcy. It demonstrated a commitment to progressive ideas of liberty and set a precedent for the protection of settlers' rights, contributing to the development of Kansas as a state.
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The constitution offered limited suffrage to women
The Wyandotte Constitution, drafted in 1859, served as the foundational document for the U.S. state of Kansas, outlining its governance framework and civil rights protections. While it did not initially grant universal suffrage, it offered limited suffrage to women, marking a progressive step forward in a time when women's rights were often overlooked.
The constitution-drafting process in Kansas was marked by a bitter conflict over slavery, with the state hosting two governments, each with its own constitution and claiming legitimacy. The Wyandotte Constitution emerged as a compromise, explicitly prohibiting slavery and addressing women's rights, albeit in a limited fashion.
While some male delegates advocated for equal voting rights for women, the majority considered it too "radical." As a result, the final constitution granted suffrage only to "every white male person of twenty-one years and upward," effectively excluding not only women but also Blacks and Indians from the voting process. However, due to the efforts of activists like Clarina Nichols, the Wyandotte Constitution did not entirely disregard women's rights.
The limited suffrage offered to women under the Wyandotte Constitution was a significant step forward in a historical context. It acknowledged and advanced women's rights, even if it fell short of full equality. This progressive spirit is further reflected in the constitution's prohibition of slavery and its protection of settlers from bankruptcy through a homestead exemption.
Kansas became the 34th state on January 29, 1861, when President James Buchanan signed the bill approving the Wyandotte Constitution. This marked the end of the "Bleeding Kansas" era, a period of intense struggle over slavery in the territory. While the Wyandotte Constitution has been amended numerous times since its adoption, it remains the foundation of Kansas's governance today.
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Kansas became the 34th state
The Wyandotte Constitution, drafted between July 5 and July 29, 1859, in what is now Kansas City, Kansas, served as the foundational document for Kansas's statehood. The constitution expressed progressive ideas for its time, notably prohibiting slavery, protecting settlers from bankruptcy through a homestead exemption, and granting limited suffrage to women.
The approval of the Wyandotte Constitution marked the culmination of a protracted and contentious debate over slavery in the Kansas Territory. The territory witnessed "duelling constitutions," with two governments in two cities (Lecompton and Lawrence), each claiming to be the legitimate authority over the entire territory.
On October 4, 1859, the Wyandotte Constitution was approved in a referendum by a vote of 10,421 to 5,530. This referendum settled the issue of slavery in Kansas, paving the way for statehood.
In April 1860, the United States House of Representatives voted in favour of admitting Kansas as a state under the Wyandotte Constitution. However, there was resistance in the Senate, with senators from slave states opposing Kansas's admission. As 11 slave states seceded from the Union, their senators resigned, and on January 21, 1861, the Senate passed the Kansas bill.
Finally, on January 29, 1861, President James Buchanan signed the bill approving the Wyandotte Constitution, and Kansas officially became the 34th state of the United States. This historic event marked the end of Kansas's journey from a territory to a state and signified the resolution of bitter conflicts over slavery. Kansas's statehood solidified its place in the Union and set the stage for its significant contributions to American agriculture and industry.
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Frequently asked questions
The Wyandotte Constitution is the constitution of the U.S. state of Kansas.
The Wyandotte Constitution, drawn up in July 1859, explicitly prohibited slavery, granted a homestead exemption to protect settlers from bankruptcy, and offered limited suffrage to women.
The Wyandotte Constitution was approved in a referendum in October 1859 and Kansas was admitted to the Union as a free state on January 29, 1861, marking the end of five years of bitter conflict over slavery in Kansas Territory.
