Simone Lawson
Florida's Constitution of 1885 was drafted by the Constitutional Convention of 1885, which took place in Tallahassee, Florida, from June 9 to August 3, 1885. This was Florida's fifth constitutional convention, and it aimed to reform the previous Carpetbag Constitution of 1868, which had been enacted following the American Civil War. The 1885 Constitution reversed some of the provisions of the 1868 Constitution, including establishing a poll tax, which disenfranchised African Americans and poor whites, codifying segregation, and prohibiting interracial marriage. It also restored the election of many public officials, reduced the salaries of state officers, and made the governor ineligible for reelection. The 1885 Constitution remained in effect until 1968 when a new constitution was adopted in response to the Civil Rights Movement, which significantly revised and replaced it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason | To reverse aspects of the 1868 Constitution, which was drawn up during the Reconstruction era |
| Date of Convention | June 9, 1885 – August 3, 1885 |
| Location of Convention | Tallahassee, Florida |
| Number of Delegates | 63 |
| Number of Black Delegates | 7 |
| Number of Black Delegates in 1868 | 18 |
| Date Ratified | November 1886 |
| Vote Count | 31,803 or 31,804 to 21,243 |
| Changes | Established the makeup of the state government, codified segregation, established a poll tax, reduced salaries of the governor and other state officers, made the governor ineligible for re-election, abolished the office of lieutenant governor, provided for a legislature of fixed numbers, added a residency requirement, forbade consecutive terms for the office of governor, made the cabinet elected instead of appointed, made many state and local offices elective, and gave the legislature the option of requiring the payment of a poll tax as a requirement for voting |
| Duration | 1968, when it was replaced |
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What You'll Learn
To reverse the Reconstruction era Constitution of 1868
Florida has been governed by six different constitutions since it joined the Union. The 1885 Constitution of Florida was drafted to reverse aspects of the Reconstruction Era Constitution of 1868. The 1868 Constitution was profoundly shaped by the dominance of the Republican Party and the enfranchisement of African Americans for the first time.
The Reconstruction Acts gave Congress control over the readmission of Confederate states to the Union. The US military reoccupied these states and ensured that all eligible men over 21, regardless of race, were registered to vote. Each state's newly enfranchised electorate then selected delegates to draft a new state constitution.
By the early 1880s, conservative Democrats controlled Florida's state politics and wanted to reverse some of the provisions of the 1868 Constitution. The 1885 Constitution established a poll tax, which disenfranchised many African Americans and poor whites. It also mandated racial segregation in schools and prohibited intermarriage between whites and African Americans.
The 1885 Constitution was ratified by a vote of 31,803 to 21,243 in November 1886. It remained in force until 1968, when Florida adopted a new constitution in response to the mass Civil Rights Movement. The current Florida Constitution was ratified on November 5, 1968, and has been modified several times since.
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To codify segregation and establish racially segregated schools
Florida has had six different constitutions since it became a US state. The Constitution of 1885 was the state's fifth, drawn up by the Constitutional Convention of 1885, which met from June 9 to August 3, 1885. The convention was held to reform the "Carpetbag" Constitution of 1868, which had been shaped by the dominance of the Republican Party and the enfranchisement of African Americans for the first time.
By the 1880s, conservative Democrats controlled state politics and wanted to reverse some of the old document's provisions. The 1885 Constitution established the makeup of the state government that continued until 1968. It also codified segregation and established racially segregated schools. Segregated public schools for Black and white students were made mandatory, which resulted in disparities in resources and quality between Black and white schools. The 1885 Constitution also prohibited marriage between "a white person and a person of negro descent".
The 1885 Constitution was ratified by a vote of 31,803 to 21,243 in November 1886. It represented the regression to racial discrimination that was occurring throughout the South in the post-Reconstruction era. The Constitution was weighted in favor of counties, with each new county entitled to one to three representatives according to population. This led to the overrepresentation of rural, conservative areas, which became a major factor in the creation of the current Constitution of 1968, which changed apportionment.
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To disenfranchise African Americans and poor whites
The Florida Constitution of 1885 was drafted to disenfranchise African Americans and poor whites. The document reversed aspects of the Reconstruction era 1868 Constitution, which had been shaped by the dominance of the Republican Party and the enfranchisement of African Americans. By the 1880s, conservative Democrats controlled state politics and wanted to undo some of the old document's provisions.
The 1885 Constitution established a poll tax, which disproportionately impacted African Americans and poor whites, preventing them from voting. It also codified segregation, requiring separate public schools for Black and white students, which resulted in disparities in resources and quality between the two. Additionally, the new constitution prohibited marriage between "a white person and a person of negro descent".
The 1885 Constitution was ratified by Floridians in November 1886, with a vote of 31,803 or 31,804 to 21,243. It remained in effect until 1968, when Florida adopted a new constitution in response to the mass Civil Rights Movement. The 1968 Constitution significantly revised and replaced the 1885 version, ending the legalized segregation and disenfranchisement of African Americans and poor whites in the state.
The 1885 Constitution was not just about disenfranchisement; it also made other significant changes to the state government. It restored the election of many public officials, reduced the salaries of the governor and other state officers, made the governor ineligible for reelection, abolished the office of lieutenant governor, and provided for a legislature with a fixed number of representatives. These changes aimed to reform the previous constitution, which some considered too "radical".
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To reduce the salaries of the governor and other state officers
Florida's 1885 Constitution was drafted to reverse aspects of the 1868 Constitution, which had been shaped by the dominance of the Republican Party and the enfranchisement of African Americans. By the 1880s, conservative Democrats controlled state politics and wanted to reverse some of the old document's provisions. The 1885 Constitution was Florida's fifth, and it reduced the salaries of the governor and other state officers. It also made the governor ineligible for reelection, abolished the office of the lieutenant governor, and provided for a legislature of fixed numbers.
The 1885 Constitution was ratified by a vote of 31,803 to 21,243 and established the makeup of the state government until 1968. It was "the model" of Florida's government during this period and represented the regression to racial discrimination occurring throughout the South in the post-Reconstruction era.
The 1885 Constitution had a significant impact on the salaries of state officials, with the governor and other state officers receiving reduced salaries. This was part of a broader set of changes that altered the structure and functions of Florida's government. The Constitution also established a poll tax, which disenfranchised many African Americans and poor whites, and codified segregation, including in public schools.
The 1885 Constitution's reduction in salaries for the governor and other state officers was a notable aspect of the document's reforms. This change, along with other modifications to the structure and functions of Florida's government, aimed to address the concerns of conservative Democrats who had gained control of state politics by the early 1880s.
The reduction in salaries for the governor and other state officers under the 1885 Constitution reflected the political and economic priorities of the time. It is important to consider the broader context of the period, including the regression to racial discrimination and the disenfranchisement of African Americans and poor whites, to understand the motivations and implications of this constitutional change fully.
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To abolish the office of lieutenant governor
Florida has had several constitutions throughout its history, with the current one being ratified in 1968. Florida's Constitution of 1885 was drafted to reverse some of the aspects of the 1868 Florida Constitution, which had been enacted following the American Civil War.
One of the key changes made by the 1885 Constitution was the abolition of the office of lieutenant governor. This move was part of a broader effort to reform the state's government and electoral process. The 1885 Constitution also established the makeup of the state government, which remained in place until 1968.
The 1885 Constitution was crafted by a convention of delegates who met in Tallahassee from June 9 to August 3, 1885. The convention was Florida's fifth, and it aimed to address issues with the previous constitution, which had been drafted by a Republican-dominated government in the aftermath of the Civil War.
The 1868 Constitution had enfranchised African Americans for the first time and was shaped by the dominance of the Republican Party. However, by the early 1880s, conservative Democrats controlled state politics and sought to undo some of the provisions of the previous constitution. The 1885 Constitution reflected this shift in political power and was ratified by the citizens of Florida in November 1886.
The abolition of the office of lieutenant governor was one of several changes made by the 1885 Constitution. It also reduced the salaries of the governor and other state officers, made the governor ineligible for reelection, and established a fixed number of legislators. Additionally, it instituted a poll tax as a prerequisite for voting, which disproportionately disenfranchised African Americans and poor whites. It also mandated racial segregation in schools and prohibited intermarriage between whites and African Americans.
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Frequently asked questions
To reverse the 1868 Constitution's aspects, including the enfranchisement of African Americans, and to codify segregation.
The 1885 Florida Constitution established the makeup of the state government that continued until 1968. It also restored the election of many public officials, reduced the salaries of the governor and other state officers, and abolished the office of lieutenant governor.
The Constitutional Convention of 1885, also known as the Florida Constitutional Convention, met from June 9 to August 3, 1885, in Tallahassee, Florida, to draft a new state constitution.
The 1885 Florida Constitution included provisions such as the establishment of segregated public schools, the legalization of poll taxes, and the prohibition of intermarriage between whites and African Americans.
The 1885 Florida Constitution introduced a poll tax as a prerequisite for voting, which disproportionately disenfranchised African Americans and poor whites, making it difficult for them to participate in elections.
