Eleanor Finch
The Utah Constitution, which defines the basic form and operation of the state government in Utah, was put into effect on January 4, 1896, when Utah became the 45th state. The constitution was drafted at a convention in Salt Lake City, which took place from March 4, 1895, to May 8, 1895, and was the seventh and final attempt to be admitted to the United States as a state.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the Utah Constitutional Convention | March 4, 1895 to May 8, 1895 |
| Number of delegates at the convention | 107 |
| Date the Utah Constitution was adopted | January 4, 1896 |
| Number of amendments to the constitution | 132-134 |
| Date of the latest amendments | November 5, 2024 |
| Previous attempts at statehood | 7 |
| First attempt at a constitution | 1849 |
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What You'll Learn
The Utah Constitution was adopted in 1896
Utah's journey to statehood was a long and arduous process, marked by multiple obstacles and complications. The territory had to overcome issues such as insufficient population, concerns over polygamy, and struggles with slavery. Despite these challenges, Utah's first constitution was adopted in 1896, marking a significant milestone in the territory's quest for statehood.
The adoption of the Utah Constitution in 1896 was the culmination of years of effort and multiple attempts to draft a constitution that would be accepted by Congress. The process began in 1849 when residents first sought status as a territory and drafted a constitution for the State of Deseret. This was followed by several more attempts, with the territory of Utah drafting seven constitutions between 1849 and 1895. The seventh and final attempt occurred during the Utah Constitutional Convention of 1895, which lasted from March 4 to May 8.
The 1895 Convention was a significant gathering, with 107 delegates meeting to develop the state's first constitution. This convention stands out as it included women among its delegates for the first time. The issue of women's suffrage was a prominent and controversial topic during the convention, with delegates expressing both support for and concern over its inclusion in the constitution. The final draft of the constitution did not include a suffrage clause, as there were worries that it might jeopardize the entire document's approval.
The Constitution of Utah, as drafted in 1895 and adopted in 1896, outlined the basic form and operation of the state government. It addressed various aspects, including the distribution of powers, the structure of the legislative, executive, and judicial departments, and the rights and responsibilities of the citizens. The constitution also included unique provisions, such as the requirement for a jury of eight people in most cases and the explicit prohibition of labour blacklisting.
Since its adoption in 1896, the Utah Constitution has undergone numerous amendments. By 1996, it had been amended 91 times, and from 1998 to 2024, voters approved an additional 43 amendments. The most recent amendments were approved by voters on November 5, 2024, bringing the total number of amendments to 134. The ability to amend the constitution ensures that it remains a living document, capable of adapting to the changing needs and values of the state and its citizens.
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It has been amended 132-134 times
The Utah Constitution, which was adopted in 1896, has been amended 132-134 times. Utahns had drafted seven previous constitutions starting in 1849 as part of repeated attempts to become a state. In 1850, the federal government created the Utah Territory, with a secular government. However, Utah was still prohibited from joining the union due to the practice of polygamy.
In 1890, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints renounced polygamy, which gave Utah permission from the federal government to begin drafting a constitution. The Utah Constitution was drafted at a convention that took place from March 4, 1895, to May 8, 1895, in Salt Lake City. The constitution was later approved by the citizens of Utah and, eventually, by Congress and President Grover Cleveland.
Utah became the 45th state on January 4, 1896. The current Utah Constitution has 22 articles and outlines the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters.
Amending the Utah Constitution requires a two-step process. First, a proposed amendment must pass a two-thirds vote in both houses of the Legislature. Second, it must be approved by a simple majority of voters casting votes on the amendment. The most recent amendments to the Utah Constitution were approved by voters on November 5, 2024, when two amendments were passed.
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Utah was admitted to the Union as the 45th state in 1896
Utah's journey to becoming a state was a long and arduous one, marked by multiple obstacles and complications. The territory's first attempt at a constitution was in 1849, and it took almost half a century of lobbying, population growth, and sociopolitical changes for Utah to finally gain statehood.
Utah's path to statehood was fraught with challenges, including concerns over insufficient population, the practice of polygamy, and struggles with the territory's position on slavery. The territory's requests for statehood were denied or ignored by Congress a staggering six times before the Constitutional Convention of 1895, making it the most Congress had ever rejected or ignored a territory's bid for statehood.
The Constitutional Convention of 1895, held from March 4 to May 8, was Utah's seventh and final attempt to become a state. The convention was marked by debates over women's suffrage, with some delegates concerned that including a suffrage clause in the constitution might jeopardize its passage. Despite this, women suffragists like Ruth May Fox and Lucy Heppler gathered signatures from twenty Utah counties in support of women's voting rights.
The resulting Constitution of Utah was drafted and later approved by the citizens of Utah. It took several attempts to get the constitution through Congress, but it eventually succeeded, and on January 4, 1896, Utah was admitted to the Union as the 45th state. The Utah Constitution has since been amended numerous times, with voters most recently approving new amendments in 2024.
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The constitution was drafted at a convention in 1895
The Utah Constitution was drafted at a convention that opened on March 4, 1895, in Salt Lake City. This was the seventh and final attempt to draft a constitution for Utah, with the first attempt occurring in 1849. The convention lasted until May 8, 1895, and consisted of 107 delegates, including women, who met to develop the state's first constitution.
Utah's journey to statehood was a long and arduous one, with requests for statehood being denied or ignored by Congress a total of six times before the Constitutional Convention of 1895. The territory's government had to overcome obstacles such as insufficient population, concerns over the practice of polygamy, and struggles with the state's position on slavery.
The 1895 convention occurred after the passage of the Edmunds Act, which strengthened the enforcement of anti-polygamy laws, and the 1890 renouncement of polygamy by the Mormon president, Wilford Woodruff. These events paved the way for Utah to begin drafting a constitution that would be acceptable to Congress.
One of the most controversial issues addressed during the convention was voting rights for women. While there was support for women's suffrage among both Republican and Democratic political parties in Utah, some delegates worried that including a suffrage clause in the constitution might jeopardize its chances of being accepted by the people of Utah or by Congress. Despite these concerns, women suffragists like Ruth May Fox and Lucy Heppler worked tirelessly to gather signatures from twenty Utah counties in support of women's suffrage.
The Constitution of Utah, drafted in 1895, was ultimately accepted by Congress and President Grover Cleveland, leading to Utah's admittance into the Union as the 45th state on January 4, 1896.
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Previous attempts at statehood failed due to polygamy and slavery
The Utah Constitution, which was enacted on May 8, 1895, and amended in 1896, was the result of several previous attempts at statehood that failed due to the controversial issues of polygamy and slavery.
Utah's path to statehood began in 1847 when a group of members from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, led by Brigham Young, settled in the region. In 1849, they drafted a constitution for the proposed State of Deseret, which encompassed a significant portion of the modern-day American Southwest. However, their application for statehood was rejected in 1850, and instead, the smaller Utah Territory was established with a secular government imposed by the federal government.
One of the primary obstacles to Utah's statehood was the practice of polygamy among members of the LDS Church. Polygamy, or plural marriage, began in 1841 with Joseph Smith, and by the time the Latter-Day Saints settled in the Salt Lake Valley, about 10% of the population practiced it. Brigham Young, the leader of the LDS Church and the first territorial governor, publicly announced the practice at a General Conference of the church in 1852. This sparked intense disputes between the Mormon inhabitants and the U.S. government, with federally appointed judges cracking down on polygamy. The issue of polygamy was so contentious that it led to the Utah War in 1857, also known as "Buchanan's Blunder" by Mormon leaders.
Slavery was another factor that hindered Utah's path to statehood. In 1847, the first group of settlers brought three African slaves with them, making Utah the only place in the western United States to have African slavery. By 1850, there were around 100 black people in the territory, most of whom were slaves. The territorial legislature passed laws legalizing slavery in 1852, further complicating Utah's quest for statehood.
It wasn't until 1890 that the obstacles to statehood were finally addressed. That year, the LDS Church renounced polygamy, and Wilford Woodruff, the leader of the church, issued a manifesto ending the practice of plural marriage. Additionally, with the abolition of slavery in the territory during the Civil War, the way toward statehood was paved. In 1895, Utah drafted a new constitution, and in 1896, after seven attempts, it was finally admitted as the 45th state of the Union.
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Frequently asked questions
Utah first sought statehood in 1849.
The Utah Constitution was drafted at a convention held from March 4, 1895, to May 8, 1895.
The Utah Constitution came into effect on January 4, 1896, when Utah was admitted to the Union as the 45th state.
