
Missouri has had four constitutions over its two centuries of statehood, with the first being adopted in 1820. The third constitution was drafted in 1875, ten years after the second constitution was ratified in 1865. The fourth and current Missouri Constitution was adopted in 1945 and has been amended numerous times.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year written | 1875 |
| Fourth constitution | Yes |
| Sixth Constitutional Convention | No |
| Voters' ratification | No |
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What You'll Learn

The third constitution was written in 1875
The third Missouri Constitution was written in 1875, 10 years after the second constitution became effective in 1865. The third constitution was drafted during the Reconstruction Era, as the U.S. dealt with the fallout of the Civil War. Notably, this draft included a provision establishing the segregation of Missouri's school system and the appropriation of 25% of the state's general revenue for education.
The third constitution was preceded by the second Missouri state constitution, which was passed by a constitutional convention in January 1865 and ratified on June 6, 1865. This second constitution abolished slavery in the state and was known as the "Draconian Constitution" due to its loyalty oath provisions, which were later struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in Cummings v. Missouri (1867).
The first Missouri Constitution was written by a Constitutional Convention in 1820 and was in effect from 1821 to 1865. It was adopted on July 19, 1820, and included 13 articles establishing the boundaries of the future state, the system of government, the Missouri militia, the education system, and the amendment process. Notably, Missouri was admitted as a slave state, and the constitution specifically excluded "free negroes and mulattoes" from the state.
Following the third constitution, the fourth and current Missouri Constitution was adopted in 1945 and remains in place today. It provides for three branches of government: legislative (the Missouri General Assembly), executive (the Governor of Missouri), and judicial (the Supreme Court of Missouri). It also sets up local governments in the form of counties and cities.
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It was drafted 10 years after the second constitution
Missouri's third constitution was drafted in 1875, ten years after the second constitution was ratified in 1865. The second constitution was passed following the end of the Civil War and notably abolished slavery in the state. Known as the "Draconian Constitution", it included loyalty oath provisions that were later struck down by the US Supreme Court in Cummings v. Missouri (1867).
The third constitution was drafted during the Reconstruction Era, a period in which the US dealt with the aftermath of the Civil War. This third version included a provision establishing the segregation of Missouri's school system and the appropriation of 25% of the state's general revenue for education.
The fourth and current Missouri Constitution was adopted in 1945 and has been amended numerous times since. It establishes three branches of government: legislative (the Missouri General Assembly), executive (the Governor of Missouri), and judicial (the Supreme Court of Missouri). It also sets up local governments in the form of counties and cities.
The first constitution of Missouri was drafted in 1820 and was in effect from 1821 to 1865 when the second constitution took effect. Missouri became the 24th state in 1821 and has had four constitutions over its two centuries of statehood, reflecting the changes that the nation as a whole has undergone during this time.
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The third constitution was written 125 years after the first
The first constitution of Missouri was drafted in 1820 and was in effect from 1821 to 1865. The third constitution was written 125 years after the first, in 1875. This was during the Reconstruction Era, when the US dealt with the aftermath of the Civil War. The third constitution was drafted 10 years after the second constitution was ratified in 1865.
The first constitution was written by a Constitutional Convention in 38 days and was adopted on July 19, 1820. It was one of the results of the Missouri Compromise, and Missouri was initially admitted to the Union as a slave state. The constitution specifically excluded "free negroes and mulattoes" from the state. This "exclusion clause" initially prevented the US Congress from admitting Missouri to the Union.
The second constitution was passed by a constitutional convention elected in November 1864, which met in January 1865 and passed a second Missouri state constitution that abolished slavery. It was ratified on June 6, 1865, and remained in effect for 10 years.
The fourth constitutional convention was held in 1875, and the state's third constitution was drafted. This draft included a provision establishing the segregation of Missouri's school system and the appropriation of 25% of the state's general revenue for education. The third constitution was written 125 years after the first, and 145 years before the current constitution was ratified in 1945.
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It was written during the Reconstruction Era
The third version of the Missouri Constitution was indeed written during the Reconstruction Era, which followed the American Civil War. The Reconstruction Era was a period when the U.S. dealt with the fallout of the Civil War, and Missouri's third constitution was part of this process.
The third Missouri Constitution was drafted in 1875, ten years after the second constitution was ratified. The second constitution, ratified in 1865, had abolished slavery in the state. However, it was known as the "Draconian Constitution" due to its loyalty oath provisions, which were later struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in Cummings v. Missouri (1867). This second constitution remained in effect for a decade until the third constitution was adopted.
The fourth and current Missouri Constitution was ratified in 1945, following the sixth Constitutional Convention, which wrote and approved it over the course of a year. This latest version has been amended numerous times to reflect changing times and societal values.
The original Missouri Constitution was drafted in 1820 and adopted on July 19, 1820, when Missouri was admitted as the 24th state of the Union. This first constitution included 13 articles, establishing the boundaries of the state, its system of government, the Missouri militia, the education system, and the amendment process.
Each state within the United States has its own constitution and laws, and Missouri's constitutions over the years have reflected the changes and evolution that the nation has gone through. The third constitution, written during the Reconstruction Era, was no exception to this, as it aimed to address the issues arising in the aftermath of the Civil War.
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The third constitution included a provision for segregated schools
Missouri's third constitution was drafted in 1875, ten years after the second constitution was ratified in 1865 following the end of the Civil War. The third constitution was adopted during the Reconstruction Era, a period in which the U.S. dealt with the aftermath of the Civil War.
The second constitution, ratified in 1865, abolished slavery in Missouri, but it did not address the issue of racial segregation in schools or other public institutions. The third constitution's provision for segregated schools was a reflection of the prevailing racist attitudes and policies of the time, which sought to perpetuate the unequal treatment of African Americans and other racial minorities.
The inclusion of the provision for segregated schools in the third constitution had far-reaching consequences for the education and social fabric of Missouri. It led to the separation of students based on race, with African American and other minority students being denied equal access to educational resources and opportunities. This provision also contributed to the entrenchment of racial segregation in other aspects of society, reinforcing a system of racial hierarchy and discrimination.
It is important to note that the third constitution's provision for segregated schools was not the end of the story. In the years that followed, there were efforts to integrate the school system and challenge the legality of segregation. For example, in the 1984/1985 school year, there were attempts to attract non-minority students to the Kansas City, Missouri, School District to promote integration. However, these efforts were met with resistance and legal challenges, illustrating the complex and ongoing struggle for racial equality in Missouri and beyond.
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Frequently asked questions
Missouri's third constitution was written in 1875.
Missouri has had four constitutions in its history.
The third constitution included a provision establishing the segregation of Missouri's school system and the appropriation of 25% of the state's general revenue for education.
The third constitution was in effect for 70 years, from 1875 to 1945.

























