Malcolm Rivera
The American Constitution is often considered the first written constitution, but the short-lived Corsican Constitution of Pasquale Paoli (1755-1769) actually preceded it by more than three decades. The Corsican Constitution was a concentrated statement of some major doctrines of the Enlightenment, and was revolutionary for its time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 1755 |
| Location | Corsica |
| Length | 10.5 pages |
| Author | Pasquale Paoli |
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What You'll Learn
- The Corsican Constitution was the first written constitution, predating the American Constitution by 30+ years
- The American Constitution was the first complete written national constitution
- The British constitution is conceptual, a body of law and tradition, rather than a written document
- The Greek city-states had customary or partially written constitutions
- The Corsican Constitution was a concentrated statement of some major doctrines of the Enlightenment
The Corsican Constitution was the first written constitution, predating the American Constitution by 30+ years
While the American Constitution is often credited as being the first written constitution, the Corsican Constitution was actually the first, predating the American Constitution by more than 30 years. The Corsican Constitution was a ten-and-a-half-page manuscript, written in 1755, and was described by historian Dorothy Carrington as a "concentrated statement of some major doctrines of the Enlightenment".
The Corsican Constitution was revolutionary, and inspired the American Constitution, which took influence from the thoughts of Locke and Montesquieu, the tradition of the British Constitution, and the Iroquois Confederacy. The American Constitution was the first complete written national constitution, but it was not the first written constitution of any kind.
Many governments, starting with the Greek city-states, had customary or partially written constitutions. All of the American states had complete written constitutions before the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention, and the delegates at the convention reacted against what they saw as the flaws in the state constitutions. The checks and balances system that emerged from the Philadelphia convention was, for many of the delegates, a reinstatement of what they believed the British constitution had long stood for, before kings began exceeding their legitimate power under it.
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The American Constitution was the first complete written national constitution
The American Constitution is often regarded as the first complete written national constitution. However, the constitution of the short-lived republic of Corsica, which was written in 1755, preceded it by more than three decades. The Corsican Constitution was a "concentrated statement of some major doctrines of the Enlightenment", according to historian Dorothy Carrington.
The American Constitution was influenced by a variety of sources, including the ideas of Locke and Montesquieu, the British tradition of the Magna Carta, and the Iroquois Confederacy. While the British and Iroquois constitutions are conceptual and based on law and tradition, the American Constitution is a written document.
Prior to the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention, the American states had their own complete written constitutions. The convention resulted in a system of checks and balances, which many delegates saw as a return to the principles of the British constitution before kings began to exceed their legitimate power.
While the American Constitution is often credited as the first written constitution, it was neither the first constitution of a general government nor the first written constitution overall. Several governments, beginning with the Greek city-states, had customary or partially written constitutions.
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The British constitution is conceptual, a body of law and tradition, rather than a written document
The American Constitution is often credited as being the first written constitution. However, the constitution of the short-lived republic of Corsica, which was written in 1755, predates it by over 30 years. The Corsican Constitution was a "concentrated statement of some major doctrines of the Enlightenment", and was nothing short of revolutionary.
The British Constitution, like the Iroquois Constitution, is conceptual, a body of law and tradition, rather than a written document. The American Constitution took inspiration from the British Constitution, going back to the Magna Carta, and the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy.
The British Constitution has evolved over time, with kings exceeding their legitimate power under it. The American Constitution, on the other hand, was a complete written national constitution, which took inspiration from various sources to create a revolutionary document.
The Corsican Constitution, which preceded the American Constitution, was a ten-and-a-half-page manuscript. It is considered to be the first written constitution adopted by a modern state.
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The Greek city-states had customary or partially written constitutions
The American Constitution is often credited as the first written constitution, but the short-lived republic of Corsica had a written constitution that predated it by over 30 years. The Corsican Constitution was a ten-and-a-half-page manuscript created between 1755 and 1769.
The American Constitution was also influenced by the Greek city-states' constitutions, which were some of the first to establish a form of government with a written framework. These constitutions varied in their specifics, but they generally established a system of laws and governance that was separate from religious authority. They also often included provisions for citizen participation in government, such as through assemblies or councils.
The Greek city-states' constitutions were an important influence on the development of constitutional government, and their legacy can be seen in the American Constitution's emphasis on checks and balances and the separation of powers. The Greek city-states' experience with self-governance and the development of written constitutions contributed to the evolution of democratic principles and the establishment of constitutional frameworks that continue to shape modern political systems.
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The Corsican Constitution was a concentrated statement of some major doctrines of the Enlightenment
The American Constitution is often credited as the first written constitution, but the Corsican Constitution of Pasquale Paoli (1755-1769) preceded it by more than three decades. The Corsican Constitution was a ten-and-a-half-page manuscript, described by historian Dorothy Carrington as a "concentrated statement of some major doctrines of the Enlightenment".
The Corsican Constitution was a product of the Enlightenment, an intellectual and cultural movement that emphasised reason, individualism, and progress. It was a time of great social and political change, challenging traditional authority and promoting new ideas about human rights, liberty, and democracy. The Corsican Constitution embodied these Enlightenment ideals, reflecting the spirit of the age and laying the foundation for modern constitutionalism.
The Corsican Constitution was a revolutionary document, challenging the established order and advocating for a new form of government. It was a direct response to the flaws seen in the state constitutions of the time, which had exchanged the unlimited power of a king for the unlimited power of an elected legislature. The Corsican Constitution proposed a system of checks and balances, seeking to limit the power of any one individual or group and protect the rights and freedoms of the people.
The specific doctrines of the Enlightenment that the Corsican Constitution embodied included the ideas of natural rights, popular sovereignty, and the social contract. These concepts, developed by Enlightenment thinkers such as Locke and Montesquieu, formed the philosophical basis for the Corsican Constitution and shaped its provisions on government structure, individual liberties, and the rule of law.
The Corsican Constitution, therefore, served as a powerful manifestation of the Enlightenment's most significant principles. By codifying these ideas into a written constitution, the Corsicans created a lasting legacy that influenced future generations and contributed to the development of modern constitutional democracy.
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Frequently asked questions
The American Constitution was the first complete written national constitution. However, it was neither the first constitution of a general government, nor the first written constitution. The Corsican Constitution of Pasquale Paoli (1755-1769) predated it by more than three decades.
The Corsican Constitution was a ten and a half page manuscript. It was described by historian Dorothy Carrington as a "concentrated statement of some major doctrines of the Enlightenment".
The American Constitution took inspiration from many sources, including the thoughts of Locke and Montesquieu, the tradition of the British constitution going back to Magna Carta, and the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy.
The American Constitution established a checks and balances system, which was seen as a reinstatement of what the British constitution had long stood for, before kings began exceeding their legitimate power under it.
