Eleanor Finch
Georgia's first constitution was written in 1777, just a year after the state's first constitutional convention. The convention was held in Savannah in October 1776, three months after the American colonies declared independence from Great Britain. The constitution was completed in February 1777 and remained in effect for 12 years. It outlined a number of basic rights, including freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and trial by jury. Georgia has had ten constitutions in total, with the current one being ratified in 1982.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the first constitution | 5 February 1777 |
| Date of the first convention | October 1776 |
| Location of the first convention | Savannah |
| Number of constitutions | 10 |
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What You'll Learn
Georgia's first constitution was completed in February 1777
The document was not submitted to voters for ratification but remained in effect for twelve years. It vested most governmental authority in a state legislative body, incorporated the separation of powers doctrine, and included basic rights such as freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and trial by jury.
The Constitution of 1777 provided that another convention could be called by the people to alter the document if a majority of the state's counties submitted petitions, and these petitions were signed by a majority of voters within each county. This constitution was replaced by the Constitution of 1789, which was modelled after the U.S. Constitution.
Georgia has had ten constitutions in total, with the current and tenth state constitution being ratified on November 2, 1982.
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The constitution was drafted by a convention of delegates
Georgia's first constitution was drafted by a convention of delegates in Savannah in October 1776, three months after the American colonies declared independence from Great Britain. This convention was convened to replace the Rules and Regulations of 1776, which had served as a temporary charter during the heightened hostilities in April 1776.
The delegates foresaw the need for amendments and revisions, so the Constitution of 1777 provided that another convention could be called by the people to make alterations. This convention method of adopting a constitution was a distinctly American innovation that first appeared during the Revolutionary War era (1775-1783). Several other states also chose this method, while some used their provincial congresses to frame a founding document.
The Constitution of 1777 was completed in February 1777 and remained in effect for twelve years without being ratified by voters. It vested most governmental authority in a state legislative body, incorporated the separation of powers doctrine, and included basic rights such as freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and trial by jury.
In November 1788, Georgia revised the 1777 Constitution through another constitutional convention to assure conformity with the newly ratified U.S. Constitution. The Constitution of 1789, Georgia's shortest, was modelled after the U.S. Constitution. This document resulted from three separate conventions, reflecting the ambiguities of the convention process and the influence of revolutionary ideals on political practices in the early Republic.
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It was executed without ratification by voters
Georgia's first constitution was drafted in 1777, just over a year after the state's first constitutional convention in October 1776. This convention was convened just three months after the American colonies declared independence from Great Britain. The 1777 constitution was executed without ratification by voters and remained in effect for twelve years.
The Constitution of 1777 was drafted by a convention that assembled in Savannah on October 1, 1776, in accordance with the Continental Congress's recommendation that the colonies form independent state governments. The delegates at this convention had the foresight to anticipate that amendments and revisions would be necessary. Thus, the Constitution of 1777 provided that another convention could be called by the people to make alterations, but only if petitions for such changes were submitted by a majority of the state's counties and signed by a majority of voters within each county.
The Constitution of 1777 vested most governmental authority in a state legislative body and incorporated the separation of powers doctrine. It also included a number of basic rights, such as the free exercise of religion, freedom of the press, and trial by jury. On January 2, 1788, Georgia ratified the U.S. Constitution and, later that year, revised the 1777 Constitution to assure conformity with the federal document. The Constitution of 1789 was Georgia's shortest constitution and was modeled after the U.S. Constitution.
Since the Constitution of 1777, Georgia has had ten constitutions in total. The state's current and tenth constitution was ratified on November 2, 1982, replacing the previous 1976 constitution.
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The constitution was amended in 1789
Georgia's first constitution was written in 1777, and it remained in effect for twelve years. In 1788, Georgia revised the 1777 constitution to assure conformity with the federal document. This led to the Constitution of 1789, which was Georgia's shortest constitution and was modelled after the U.S. Constitution.
The Constitution of 1789 was amended to replace the unicameral Congress with a bicameral General Assembly. The executive council was abolished, and the legislature was empowered to elect the governor. The 1789 Constitution also guaranteed freedom of the press, trial by jury, and freedom of religion.
In 1795, a convention was held to amend the recently adopted 1789 Constitution. These amendments reapportioned the House of Representatives among the counties, with each county receiving one state senator. The state capital was also moved from Savannah to Louisville. Another convention was scheduled for 1797 to make further amendments to the document.
The 1789 Constitution was significant in Georgia's history as it reflected the state's efforts to align with the newly adopted U.S. Constitution. The amendments made to this constitution aimed to address issues related to legislative representation, the balance of power, and the protection of fundamental rights. These changes set the foundation for Georgia's subsequent constitutional developments and reflected the state's evolving political, economic, and social landscape.
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Four new constitutions were written during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras
Georgia's first constitution was written in 1777, and four new constitutions were penned during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. The Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865, and the Reconstruction period is generally considered to have ended in 1877. Thus, the four constitutions were written in 1861, 1865, 1868, and 1877.
The four constitutions were written in quick succession due to the rapid changes in state governmental control during and after the Civil War. The 1861 Constitution was the first state constitution submitted to the people for ratification. It included a lengthy bill of rights, incorporating the concepts of due process and judicial review for the first time. The 1865 Constitution was similar to the 1861 version, as it continued the bill of rights and made no significant changes to the legislature.
The Reconstruction Acts of 1867 established military rule over the Southern states until new governments could be formed. They also gave former male slaves the right to vote and hold public office. The Fourteenth Amendment, addressed by Thaddeus Stevens in 1866, made African Americans citizens and protected them from discriminatory state laws. The Fifteenth Amendment, which became part of the Constitution in 1870, prohibited states from denying any citizen the right to vote based on race.
The constitutions of Georgia during this period reflected the broader national context of the Civil War and Reconstruction, characterised by the struggle for equal rights for Black Americans and the transformation of millions "from the auction block to the ballot box". Georgia's constitutional history illustrates the various methods by which a constitution can be written or revised, and the state has had ten constitutions in total, each influenced by the political, economic, and social climate of the time.
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Frequently asked questions
Georgia's first constitution was written in 1777, and was known as the Constitution of 1777.
The Constitution of Georgia, completed in February 1777, vested most governmental authority in a state legislative body, incorporated the separation of powers doctrine, and included basic rights such as freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and trial by jury.
The first Constitution of Georgia was written just three months after the American colonies declared independence from Great Britain. It was produced by a convention of delegates from twelve parishes and the towns of Savannah and Sunbury.
The Constitution of 1777 remained in effect for twelve years. In November 1788, it was revised to conform with the federal document, i.e., the U.S. Constitution.
Georgia has had ten constitutions. Four new constitutions were written during the Civil War (1861-65) and the Reconstruction eras.
