State Historical Society of Iowa

Constitution of the Confederate States of America, 1861

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, Shorter & Reid, Montgomery, Alabama, 1861

Description

The provisional Constitution of the Confederate States of America was written when southern states first seceded from the Union. It is, in large part, exactly the same as the U.S. Constitution, with notable exceptions, some of which are excerpted here. The differences predominantly center around allowing the act of enslavement to continue within the Confederacy.

Full Transcript of the Provisional Constitution of the Confederate States of America

Transcribed Excerpt from the Provisional Constitution of the Confederate States of America

Source Dependent Questions

  • According to the preamble of the Confederate States of America's (CSA) Constitution, what powers would states in the Confederacy have? How did it differ from the preamble of the U.S. Constitution? What do you think those differences meant?
  • What rights did the CSA Constitution give slave owners? Cite specific evidence from the text in your answers.
  • Based on this source and "Cornerstone Speech" by Alexander Stephens in Savannah, Georgia, March 21, 1861, what conclusion can you make about how the South justified secession?

Citation Information

"Constitution of the Confederate States of America," Shorter & Reid, Montgomery, Alabama, 1861. Courtesy of Library of Congress Courtesy of Library of Congress