Thursday, May 24, 2007
Constitution -- Question 3
Answer this question if your last name starts with the letters M-S. As noted, the state has had many constitutions since the Revolutionary War. The two constitutions written during the Revolutionary War (1776 and 1778) more or less governmed the state until after the American Constitution was written (1787), ratified (1788), and put into effect (1789). Explain the major problems with these two early South Carolina constitutions.
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2 comments:
There were several major problems with the old Constitutions that governed South Carolina during the Revolutionary Era. One of the problems with the first Constitutions adopted by the state was the representation. Majority of the politicians were from the low country, because they were the most affluent. Although the upcountry had a larger population they did not get as many representatives. The president or governor depending on the charter was elected by the legislature. The legislature had more control then the president (governor) and that was seemingly a problem. There almost served no purpose to be a governor. It was better off to be a member of the legislature because they were hardly ever re-elected. The legislature set the term for the governor. Also, the location of the capital showed favoritism to the low country. So the move from Charleston to Columbia was somewhat of a success for the up country folks. Also, during this Era the British had won some of the support from certain legislatures. There were also some folks who were no longer encouraged by gaining independence for the fact they felt they were no longer being treated fair. But as with all bad things times do change for the better at some point, and they did for South Carolinians.
Matt Spivey
Matt has it basically correct -- the Constitutions of 1776 (which predated the Declaration of Independence and set up an independent colony!) and 1778 created governments that were barely operational and usually did not meet because of wartime operations and the fact that the British controlled large parts of the state, including Charleston.
At the end of the war (1783) the legislature spent much time and energy punishing those who had sided with the British, running rough-shod over political and economic rights. However, by they late 1780s the government finally started to try and resolve some of the regional conflicts, most notably moving the capitol, as Matt says. This was a first step toward a new constitution.
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