Constitution of the Confederate States of America, 1861

    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. They 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 power will states in the Confederacy have? How does this differ from the preamble of the U.S. Constitution?
    • What rights does the CSA Constitution give slave owners? Cite specific evidence from the text in your answers.

    Citation Information

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

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