Simone Lawson
Indiana's first constitution was drafted in 1816, with 42 delegates meeting in Corydon on June 10, 1816, to discuss statehood for Indiana. The convention's 43rd delegate, Benjamin Parke, arrived on June 14. Jonathan Jennings, who presided over the convention, was later elected Indiana's first governor. Indiana's second constitution was drafted in 1850, with 150 delegates convening in the Hall of Representatives at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis on October 7, 1850.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 7 October 1850 |
| Location | Hall of Representatives, Indiana Statehouse, Indianapolis |
| Number of delegates | 150 |
| Number of Democrats | 95 |
| Number of Whigs | 55 |
| Number of farmers | 42% |
| Number of lawyers | 25% |
| Number of physicians | 12% |
| Number of native Hoosiers | 13 |
| Number of Southern-born delegates | 75 |
| Number of delegates with previous experience as lawmakers | 79 |
| Number of days of deliberation | 127 |
| Date of adjournment | 10 February 1851 |
| Previous meeting location | Corydon |
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What You'll Learn
Delegates met in Corydon in 1816
Indiana has had two state constitutions. The first was adopted in 1816, and the second in 1851. Delegates met in Corydon in June 1816 to discuss statehood for Indiana and to write the state's first constitution.
At the time, slavery was a divisive issue in the territory. Two major factions emerged: an anti-slavery and pro-democracy group led by Jonathan Jennings, and a pro-slavery and less democratic group led by allies of former territorial governor and future U.S. president William Henry Harrison. Jennings, who was later elected Indiana's first governor, presided over the convention. Benjamin Parke, the forty-third delegate, did not arrive until June 14. Thirty-four of the elected delegates agreed on the issue of statehood. On June 11, they passed a resolution to proceed with writing the constitution and forming a state government.
The 1816 constitution was replaced by the current constitution in 1851. The 1851 constitution has been amended numerous times since its adoption.
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The 1850 convention was held in Indianapolis
Indiana has had two state constitutions. The first was adopted in 1816, and the second in 1851. The 1851 constitution is still in place today and has been amended 46 times since 1850.
The 1851 Indiana Constitution was drafted in Indianapolis. The constitutional convention of 150 delegates convened in the Hall of Representatives at the Indiana Statehouse on October 7, 1850. George Whitfield Carr, a delegate from Lawrence County, was elected the convention's president. William Hayden English was elected to serve as the convention secretary, along with three assistant secretaries. Appointed officials included a sergeant-at-arms and a doorkeeper.
The delegates assembled in Indianapolis after a long and detailed process. Governor Whitcomb's initial call for a convention was made in December 1848. The Indiana General Assembly and the governor approved the legislation in January 1849, and the issue was then presented to Indiana voters during the statewide elections of August 1849. Of the 138,918 votes cast in the election, 81,500 favored a convention, while 57,418 were opposed.
The delegates who assembled in Indianapolis deliberated for 127 days before completing their work and adjourning on February 10, 1851. The constitution was then submitted to the state's voters for their approval in the August 4, 1851, general election. Indiana voters overwhelmingly approved the new constitution, 113,230 to 27,638.
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The Hall of Representatives hosted the 1850 convention
The Hall of Representatives, located in the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis, hosted the convention that drew up Indiana's second constitution in 1850. Indiana's first constitution was adopted in 1816, before Indiana became a state, and the delegates convened in Corydon.
The constitutional convention of 150 delegates in 1850 was called to order by Charles H. Test. George Whitfield Carr, a delegate from Lawrence County, was elected the convention's president. William Hayden English was elected as the convention secretary, with three assistants. Other appointed officials included a sergeant-at-arms and a doorkeeper. The delegates assembled on October 7, 1850, and their work lasted 127 days before they adjourned on February 10, 1851.
The delegates of the 1850 convention were tasked with revising and updating Indiana's constitution to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing society. This included addressing issues of state debt and "special legislation," or local legislation that served special interests. The delegates also made social progress, pushing for improved public schools and easier access to citizenship for immigrants.
The 1850 convention resulted in a new constitution for Indiana, which was ratified by the public and took effect in 1851. This constitution has been amended numerous times since its adoption, reflecting the evolving nature of governance and the needs of the state and its citizens.
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The 1816 convention was Indiana's first
Indiana has had two state constitutions, with the current one being adopted in 1851. The first constitution was adopted in 1816 by a constitutional convention before Indiana became a state. The 1816 convention was Indiana's first, and it was held in Corydon, Indiana, in June 1816. Forty-two delegates convened at Corydon to discuss statehood for Indiana, with Benjamin Parke, the forty-third delegate, arriving on June 14. The delegates represented two major factions with opposing views on slavery and democracy. Jonathan Jennings led the anti-slavery/pro-democracy group, while William Henry Harrison's allies led the pro-slavery/less democratic group. The anti-slavery faction aimed to institute a constitutional ban on slavery and supported democracy, the election of state officials, and voting representation in Congress.
The convention's delegates passed a resolution to proceed with writing the state's first constitution and forming a state government. Jonathan Jennings, who presided over the convention, appointed delegates to various committees. William Hendricks, who was not an elected delegate, served as the convention's secretary and was later elected as the new state's first representative to Congress. The 1816 convention resulted in the adoption of Indiana's first constitution, which served as the foundation for the state's governance until the current constitution was enacted in 1851.
Between 1820 and 1847, there were fifteen attempts to call a convention to revise the 1816 constitution, with five of these attempts succeeding in bringing the matter to a referendum vote. It wasn't until 1848 that Governor James Whitcomb, the General Assembly, and Indiana voters united in calling for a constitutional convention. The delegates for the 1850-1851 convention were elected, with 150 delegates comprising 95 Democrats and 55 Whigs. The delegates assembled in the Hall of Representatives at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis on October 7, 1850, and deliberated for 127 days before completing their work.
The 1851 constitution was ratified by Indiana voters in the August 4, 1851, general election. It included components of the 1816 constitution, proposals from delegates, and ideas from other states' constitutions. However, it also institutionalized racism through Article 13, which prohibited the immigration of African Americans into Indiana and encouraged their colonization outside the state. The 1851 constitution has been amended numerous times since its adoption, reflecting the evolving nature of governance in Indiana.
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The 1851 constitution is Indiana's second
Indiana's 1851 constitution is the state's second, superseding the first constitution of 1816. The 1851 constitution has been amended 45 times since 1850, with the most recent amendment occurring in 2024.
The 1851 constitution was drawn up by 150 delegates, comprising 95 Democrats and 55 Whigs. Of these representatives, 42% were farmers, 25% were lawyers, and 12% were physicians. Only 13 of the 150 delegates were native Hoosiers, while half were Southern-born. The delegates assembled in the Hall of the House of Representatives in Indianapolis on 7 October 1850 and worked for 127 days before completing their work on 10 February 1851.
The 1851 constitution was dedicated to the preservation of popular democratic government, at least for adult white males, and the overall rights of citizens. It included a bill of rights, granted suffrage and regulated elections, provided for a state militia, and established a state-supported system of public education. The constitution also addressed state indebtedness, limiting the General Assembly's ability to incur debt.
The 1851 constitution also contained a provision that reflected the strong anti-Black sentiment in Indiana at the time. Article 13 prohibited the immigration of African Americans into Indiana and encouraged their colonisation outside the state. This provision was considered by voters separately from the rest of the constitution and was approved by a significant majority.
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Frequently asked questions
The delegates met in Corydon, Indiana, on June 10, 1816.
There were 42 delegates in 1816, with the 43rd, Benjamin Parke, arriving on June 14.
The delegates met in the Hall of Representatives at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis.
There were 150 delegates in 1850.
