Isabella Carter
Alabama's first constitution was drafted in 1819 by 44 delegates who gathered in a cabinetmaker's shop in Huntsville. The document was considered liberal for the time, as it did not restrict voting rights and office holding to just property holders, taxpayers, or members of the state militia. It also provided some minimal protections to enslaved people. The constitution included a preamble and declaration of rights, as well as setting out distribution of powers and instructions for forming a legislative department, executive department, militia, judicial department and public education, as well as rules on impeachment, taxation and slavery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 1819 |
| Number of delegates | 44 |
| Location | A cabinetmaker's shop in Huntsville |
| Voting rights | Not restricted to property holders, taxpayers, or members of the state militia |
| Protections for enslaved people | Minimal |
| Ratification | Not submitted to the people but proclaimed to have taken effect on the day the convention adjourned |
| Copies distributed | 1,000 to residents |
| Number of pages | 26 |
| Separation of powers | Yes |
| Right to vote on amendments | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Alabama's first constitution was considered liberal for its time
Alabama's first constitution was created by 44 delegates who gathered in a cabinetmaker's shop in Huntsville. The original document included a preamble and declaration of rights, as well as setting out distribution of powers and instructions for forming a legislative department, executive department, militia, judicial department and public education, as well as rules on impeachment, taxation and slavery.
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It was drafted by 44 delegates
Alabama's first constitution was drafted by 44 delegates who gathered in a cabinetmaker's shop in Huntsville on 5 July 1819. The document was considered liberal for the time, as it did not restrict voting rights and office holding to just property holders, taxpayers, or members of the state militia. It also provided some minimal protections to enslaved people.
The constitution was not submitted to the people for ratification but was proclaimed to have taken effect on the day the convention adjourned, 2 August 1819. It included a preamble and declaration of rights, as well as setting out the distribution of powers and instructions for forming a legislative department, executive department, militia, judicial department and public education. It also included rules on impeachment, taxation and slavery.
The document was written on 26 sheets of parchment, with the last two pages containing the signatures of the 44 delegates, as well as Walker and Titus. Each of the delegates received a copy of the constitution, and 1,000 copies were distributed to residents.
Today, Alabama Constitution Hall Park in Huntsville celebrates the site where the historic document was created, with a replica of the cabinetmaker's shop, later called Constitution Hall, which was built in the 1970s.
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It was signed in a cabinetmaker's shop
Alabama's first constitution was signed in a cabinetmaker's shop in Huntsville on 2 August 1819. The shop was the largest public building in town. It was considered liberal for the time because it did not restrict voting rights and office holding to just property holders, taxpayers, or members of the state militia. It also provided some minimal protections to enslaved people. The document was not submitted to the people for ratification but rather was proclaimed to have taken effect on the day the convention adjourned.
The original document included a preamble and declaration of rights, as well as setting out distribution of powers and instructions for forming a legislative department, executive department, militia, judicial department and public education, as well as rules on impeachment, taxation and slavery. The document is written on 26 sheets of parchment, with the last two pages containing the signatures of the 44 delegates, as well as Walker and Titus.
Today, Alabama Constitution Hall Park in Huntsville celebrates the site where the historic document was created. It features a replica of the cabinetmaker's shop, later called Constitution Hall, which was built in the 1970s.
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![Constitution, State of Alabama: As Adopted by the Constitutional Convention, September 3rd, 1901 ... 1901 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61vI5PkK8ZL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
It included a declaration of rights
Alabama's first constitution was drafted in 1819 and was considered liberal for its time. It included a declaration of rights, a preamble, and set out the distribution of powers. It also included instructions for forming a legislative department, executive department, militia, judicial department, and public education. The document also included rules on impeachment, taxation, and slavery.
The constitution was drafted by 44 delegates who gathered in a cabinetmaker's shop in Huntsville. It was signed on August 2, 1819, and was not submitted to the people for ratification but rather was proclaimed to have taken effect on the day the convention adjourned.
The document was considered liberal for the time because it did not restrict voting rights and office-holding to just property holders, taxpayers, or members of the state militia. It also provided some minimal protections to enslaved people. The constitution included the right to vote on amendments, making Alabama one of the first states in the country to give its people direct participation in constitutional lawmaking.
An entire section was devoted to education, stating that "education shall forever be encouraged in this state." The constitution also preserved an independent judiciary and the right of the people to elect the governor and legislature by ballot.
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It was not submitted for ratification
Alabama's first constitution was drafted in 1819 and was considered liberal for its time. It did not restrict voting rights and office holding to just property holders, taxpayers, or members of the state militia, and it provided some minimal protections to enslaved people. The document was not submitted for ratification by the people of Alabama, but rather was proclaimed to have taken effect on the day the convention adjourned, 2 August 1819.
The constitution was drafted by 44 delegates who gathered in a cabinetmaker's shop in Huntsville, now known as Constitution Hall. The original document included a preamble and declaration of rights, as well as setting out the distribution of powers and instructions for forming a legislative department, executive department, militia, judicial department and public education, and rules on impeachment, taxation and slavery. An entire section was devoted to education, stating that education "shall forever be encouraged in this state".
The constitution was one of the most democratic on the frontier, reflecting the diversity of the delegates. It preserved an independent judiciary and the right of the people to elect the governor and legislature by ballot. It also included the right to vote on amendments, making Alabama one of the first states in the young country to give its people direct participation in constitutional lawmaking.
Today, Alabama Constitution Hall Park in Huntsville celebrates the site where the historic document was created. It features a replica of the cabinetmaker's shop, which was built in the 1970s.
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Frequently asked questions
Alabama's first constitution was considered liberal for its time. It did not restrict voting rights and office holding to just property holders, taxpayers, or members of the state militia. It also provided some minimal protections to enslaved people.
Alabama's first constitution was written on 5 July 1819.
Alabama's first constitution was written in a cabinetmaker's shop in Huntsville, Alabama.
There were 44 delegates who wrote Alabama's first constitution.
