Eleanor Finch
Florida has had several constitutions over the years, each of which has been ratified by the people of the state. The first was ratified in 1868, the second in 1886, and the third in 1968. Each constitution has reflected the political context of the time, with the 1868 constitution being shaped by the dominance of the Republican Party and the enfranchisement of African Americans, the 1886 constitution legitimising a poll tax as a prerequisite for voting, and the 1968 constitution being a necessary step towards fair apportionment of legislative districts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | 4 May 1868; 5 November 1968; November 1886 |
| Date of proposal | 24 June 1968; 9 June 1885 |
| Date of approval by Congress | 25 July 1868 |
| Date of general election for selection of delegates | May 1885 |
| Date of Convention | 9 June 1885; January 1868 |
| Date of referendum | 5 November 1968 |
| Date of Ordinance No. 1 of the convention | November 1886 |
| Date of final document | 4 May 1868 |
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What You'll Learn
- Florida's 1868 constitution was shaped by the Republican Party and the enfranchisement of African Americans
- The 1885 Constitution legitimised a poll tax as a prerequisite for voting
- The 1968 Constitution was a necessary step towards fair apportionment of legislative districts
- The 1885 Constitution was drafted in Tallahassee
- The 1868 Constitution was ratified on May 4, 1868
Florida's 1868 constitution was shaped by the Republican Party and the enfranchisement of African Americans
The 1868 Constitution was drafted by a convention in Tallahassee, which met in January 1868. The convention was required to create a constitution in line with the US Constitution and the 13th and 14th Amendments, which abolished slavery and guaranteed civil rights. The 1868 Constitution enfranchised black males and required each voter to take an oath of loyalty to the state of Florida and the US government.
The 1868 Constitution was also shaped by the moderate-conservative wing of the Republican Party, which sought to facilitate the enfranchisement of African Americans without requiring a loyalty oath to the US. The Constitution permitted ex-Confederates to hold state offices and provided for most state offices to be appointed by the governor. It also made all counties equal in terms of legislators, meaning that heavily populated African-American areas would be underserved.
The 1868 Constitution was approved by Floridians and led to the election of Republican Gov. Harrison Reed of the moderate-conservative wing. However, it also ushered in one of the most tumultuous eras of violence, corruption and controversy in Florida's history. The current Florida Constitution of 1968 was proposed in 1968 and ratified by the electorate on November 5, 1968. It included one article carried forward from the Constitution of 1885, as amended.
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The 1885 Constitution legitimised a poll tax as a prerequisite for voting
Florida's 1885 Constitution was ratified by the people in November 1886. The 1885 Constitution legitimised a poll tax as a prerequisite for voting (Article VI, Section 8), which effectively caused the disfranchisement of black people and many poor white people. By 1888, voter turnout had decreased by 27%, and additional provisions were adopted that further suppressed voter registration and turnout.
The 1885 Constitution was drafted by a convention that met in Tallahassee in June 1885. The convention was controlled by conservative Democrats who wanted to reverse some of the provisions of the old document. The new constitution was then submitted to the citizens of Florida for ratification in November 1886.
The poll tax was a significant barrier to voting for many people, especially those who were poor or marginalised. This included black people and poor white people, who were effectively disfranchised by the tax. The impact of the poll tax was so significant that by 1888, just two years after the 1885 Constitution was ratified, voter turnout had decreased by 27%.
The 1885 Constitution was not the first time that Florida had ratified a constitution. The state's first constitution was ratified in 1868, following the United States military reoccupation of the state and the registration of all eligible men over 21, regardless of race, to vote. The contents of the 1868 constitution were shaped by the dominance of the Republican Party and the enfranchisement of African Americans for the first time. However, by the early 1880s, conservative Democrats had gained control of state politics and sought to reverse some of the provisions of the 1868 constitution, leading to the drafting and ratification of the 1885 Constitution.
The 1885 Constitution was replaced by a new constitution in 1968, which was proposed via three joint resolutions in special sessions of the Florida Legislature. The 1968 Constitution included one article carried forward from the 1885 Constitution, as amended. The political context of the 1968 Constitution was that it was a necessary step towards fair apportionment of legislative districts, as required by the US Supreme Court in various decisions in the 1960s.
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The 1968 Constitution was a necessary step towards fair apportionment of legislative districts
Florida's 1968 Constitution was a necessary step towards fair apportionment of legislative districts. The 1968 Constitution was proposed via three joint resolutions in special sessions of the Florida Legislature between June 24 and July 3, 1968. The Constitution was ratified by the electorate on November 5, 1968.
The 1968 Constitution was the result of a political context that required fair apportionment of legislative districts, as decided by the US Supreme Court in various decisions in the 1960s. The previous Constitution of 1885 had legitimised a poll tax as a prerequisite for voting, effectively causing the disfranchisement of Black people and many poor White people. By 1888, voter turnout had decreased by 27%, and additional provisions were adopted that further suppressed voter registration and turnout.
The 1885 Constitution was drafted by a convention that met in Tallahassee in June 1885 and was ratified by the people in November 1886. The 1885 Constitution included provisions that reversed some of the progress made by the old document, particularly in terms of voting rights.
Florida's 1868 Constitution was profoundly shaped by the dominance of the Republican Party and the enfranchisement of African Americans for the first time. The contents of the 1868 Constitution reflected the political context of the time, which included the enfranchisement of all eligible men over 21, regardless of race.
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The 1885 Constitution was drafted in Tallahassee
Florida's 1885 Constitution was drafted in Tallahassee. A convention met in Tallahassee in June 1885 and drafted a new state constitution, which was ratified by the people in November 1886. The Convention met from 9 June to 3 August 1885, and the Constitution was submitted to the citizens of Florida for ratification in November 1886. The 1885 Constitution was ratified by a 31,803 to 21,243 vote. The new constitution legitimised a poll tax as a prerequisite for voting (Article VI, Section 8), thus effectively causing the disfranchisement of blacks and many poor whites. By 1888, voter turnout had decreased by 27%, and additional provisions were adopted that further suppressed voter registration and turnout. The 1885 Constitution was amended and included in the 1968 Constitution, which was ratified by the electorate on 5 November 1968.
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The 1868 Constitution was ratified on May 4, 1868
Florida's 1868 Constitution was ratified on May 4, 1868. The 1868 Constitution was profoundly shaped by the dominance of the Republican Party and the enfranchisement of African Americans for the first time. The 1868 Constitution was also a necessary step towards fair apportionment of legislative districts, as required by the US Supreme Court in various decisions in the 1960s.
The 1868 Constitution was proposed via three joint resolutions in special sessions of the Florida Legislature. House Joint Resolution 1-2X included all revisions except for Article V, Article VI, and Article VIII. Senate Resolution 4-2X proposed the new Article VI, which relates to elections and suffrage. Senate Resolution 5-2X proposed a new Article VIII, which defined the law regarding local government.
The 1868 Constitution was ratified by the electorate on November 5, 1968. The political context of this new Constitution was that it was a necessary step toward fair apportionment of legislative districts, as required by the US Supreme Court in various decisions in the 1960s. The 1968 Constitution consisted of certain revised articles as proposed by three joint resolutions, which were adopted during the special session of June 24-July 3, 1968.
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Frequently asked questions
Florida ratified its constitution in May 1868, November 1886 and November 1968.
The 1968 Florida Constitution was a necessary step towards fair apportionment of legislative districts, as required by the US Supreme Court in various decisions in the 1960s.
The contents of the 1868 Florida Constitution were profoundly shaped by the dominance of the Republican Party and the enfranchisement of African Americans for the first time.
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