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The first Maryland Constitution was written in 1776, and it was the basic law of the state until the Maryland Constitution of 1851 came into effect. The 1776 Constitution was penned by a convention that met in Annapolis on August 14, 1776, and was completed on November 11, 1776. The document included a Declaration of Rights, which ended the Church of England's position as the state-supported religion and granted all Christians freedom of worship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date Written | 11 November 1776 |
| Date Adopted | 1776 |
| Date Replaced | 1851 |
| Legislature | Bicameral, consisting of a Senate and House of Delegates |
| Voting Rights | Male citizens who met a minimum property requirement |
| Religion | Ended the Church of England as the state-supported religion; granted all Christians freedom of worship |
| Amendments | Could be passed by two consecutive sessions of the House of Delegates |
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What You'll Learn
The Maryland Constitution of 1776 was the first of four
The 1776 Constitution established a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland State Senate, which together formed the General Assembly of Maryland. The House of Delegates was to be chosen by all freemen above the age of 21 who met certain property qualifications. The Senate, meanwhile, was to judge the elections and qualifications of senators. The constitution also acknowledged the power of county governments to administer their own affairs and stipulated that new amendments could be passed by two consecutive sessions of the House of Delegates.
The Maryland Constitution of 1776 included a Declaration of Rights, which ended the position of the Church of England as the state-supported religion and granted all Christians freedom of worship. It also stated that all power emanated from the people and that governors were accountable to them. However, in practice, the 1776 Constitution kept political power in the hands of male citizens who met a minimum property requirement. When adopted, it allowed only 20,000 of Maryland's population of over 300,000 to vote, excluding slaves, women, and those who did not meet the property requirements.
The Maryland Constitution of 1776 remained in effect until 1851, when a new constitution was adopted on 4 July. This was replaced by another constitution in 1864, and then by the current constitution, which was ratified in 1867 and has been amended several times, most recently in 2024.
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The document was framed by a convention in Annapolis
The Maryland Constitution of 1776 was the first of four constitutions under which the U.S. state has been governed. The document was framed by a convention in Annapolis that began on August 14, 1776, and ended on November 11, 1776.
The convention was held in the city of Annapolis, where the delegates of the freemen of Maryland met to discuss and create the new constitution. The convention was a gathering of powerful Marylanders who had formed an association in the months leading up to the American Revolutionary War. This group recognised the need for a more permanent and structured government for the state, as the ad hoc government by the convention was not an effective mechanism for governing Maryland.
The 1776 constitution was significant as it established a new state government, replacing the Assembly of Freemen. It included a Declaration of Rights, which ended the Church of England's position as the state-supported religion and granted all Christians, including Roman Catholics, freedom of worship. The constitution also acknowledged the power of county governments in managing their own affairs and called for separate treasurers and land registrars on Maryland's Eastern and Western shores.
The document defined the Maryland General Assembly, a bicameral legislature consisting of the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland State Senate. It stipulated that the Legislature should consist of two distinct branches: a Senate and a House of Delegates, collectively known as The General Assembly of Maryland. The House of Delegates was to be chosen with specific requirements, including age, property ownership, and residency.
The Maryland Constitution of 1776 served as the state's basic law until the Maryland Constitution of 1851 took effect on July 4 of the same year.
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It was ratified in 1867, replacing the 1864 constitution
The current Constitution of the State of Maryland, which was ratified in 1867, is the fourth constitution under which the state has been governed and the basic law for the state. It replaced the short-lived Maryland Constitution of 1864, which was written during the Civil War when the Unionists temporarily controlled Maryland. The 1867 Constitution was approved by a bare majority (50.31%) of the state's eligible voters, including Maryland men serving in the military.
The Maryland Constitution of 1776 was the state's first constitution and was in effect from 1776 until the Maryland Constitution of 1851 took effect on July 4 of that year. The 1776 Constitution was framed by a convention that met in Annapolis on August 14, 1776, and completed its work on November 11, 1776. It was assented to and passed by the Convention of the Delegates of the Freemen of Maryland. The document included a Declaration of Rights, which ended the position of the Church of England as the state-supported religion and granted all Christians, including Roman Catholics, freedom of worship.
The 1776 Constitution also defined the Maryland General Assembly, a bicameral legislature consisting of the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland State Senate. The Constitution stipulated that the General Assembly meet annually on the first Monday of November and that each house appoint its own officers and set its own rules of procedure. It acknowledged the power of county governments to administer their affairs and called for separate treasurers and land registrars on Maryland's Eastern and Western Shores.
The 1867 Constitution, which replaced the 1864 Constitution, maintained many of the provisions of the 1776 Constitution but also included some updates and changes. It is worth noting that the 1867 Constitution has been amended multiple times since its ratification, with the most recent amendment occurring in 2024.
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The 1776 constitution defined the Maryland General Assembly
The Maryland Constitution of 1776 was the first of four constitutions under which the state has been governed. It was the state's basic law from its adoption in 1776 until the Maryland Constitution of 1851 took effect on July 4, 1851. The 1776 Constitution was formulated by a convention that met in Annapolis on July 3, 1776, and completed its work on November 11, 1776.
The Maryland Constitution of 1776 included a Declaration of Rights, which ended the position of the Church of England as the state-supported religion and granted all Christians freedom of worship. It also acknowledged the power of county governments to administer their own affairs and provided for separate treasurers and land registrars on Maryland's Eastern and Western shores.
The 1776 Constitution was amended 66 times, most notably in 1837 to provide for a popularly elected governor. It also underwent changes in the eligibility to vote. For instance, Black men who met the property requirement could vote until 1810 when the General Assembly ratified a constitutional amendment to limit voting rights to "free white men".
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The document included a Declaration of Rights
The Maryland Constitution of 1776 was the first of four constitutions under which the state has been governed. It was adopted in 1776 and remained in effect until the Maryland Constitution of 1851 came into force on July 4 of that year. The 1776 constitution was drafted by a convention that met in Annapolis on August 14, 1776, and concluded its work on November 11, 1776.
The Declaration of Rights in the 1776 constitution also acknowledged the power of county governments to manage their own affairs and called for separate treasurers and land registrars on Maryland's Eastern and Western shores. It defined the Maryland General Assembly, a bicameral legislature consisting of the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland State Senate. The House of Delegates was to be chosen by all freemen above the age of twenty-one who met specific property qualifications.
The Maryland Constitution of 1776, with its Declaration of Rights, laid the foundation for the state's governance and reflected the ideals of the time regarding religious tolerance, power vested in the people, and the establishment of a structured government. It was a significant step towards establishing a more permanent and representative government in Maryland.
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Frequently asked questions
Maryland's first constitution was written in 1776.
The first constitution of Maryland is known as the Maryland Constitution of 1776.
The Maryland Constitution of 1776 was ratified on November 11, 1776.
The Maryland Constitution of 1776 included a Declaration of Rights, which ended the Church of England's position as the state-supported religion and granted freedom of worship to all Christians. It also acknowledged the power of county governments to administer their affairs and stipulated that new amendments could be passed by two consecutive sessions of the House of Delegates.
The Maryland Constitution of 1776 was the state's basic law from its adoption in 1776 until the Maryland Constitution of 1851 took effect on July 4 of that year.
