Constitution of the Confederate States of America - The Complete Historical Text with Context on States’ Rights, and Secession

by Confederate States of America

The Preamble to the Confederate Constitution begins: "We, the people of the Confederate States, each State acting in its sovereign and independent character..." The constitution contained many of the phrases and clauses which had led to disagreement among the states in the original Union, including a Supremacy Clause, a Commerce Clause and a Necessary and Proper Clause. The Confederate Congress had powers almost identical to the US Congress, however all the minor differences added together amounted to a much more constrained federal government than the US government of the times and of today. The Confederate Constitution contained clauses which increased the powers of the Executive Branch, such as the line item veto power given to the president. However, they also granted essentially a line item veto to the Senate and Congress by limiting each bill to one issue written in the name. By making both the executive and legislative branches of government more powerful they did more to tie the hands of the Federal government overall-enhancing the planned ineffectiveness of the central government, one of the founding premises of the US Constitution. The framers of the Confederate Constitution, having studied the various constitutional crises which had arisen in the United States between 1787 and 1860, tried to revise the constitution to eliminate the grievances which had been raised in that period.

Genres: History, Politics, Civil War, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Law, American History

32 pages, Paperback

First published March 11, 1861

Reviews

[Susan J Benna]

It is what it was

Simply the text of the Confederate Constitution. Parallels US Constitution in many areas. The slavery clauses stand out. It is hard to argue the south seceded because of states rights.

[Zachary Littrell]

First of all, thanks to Shannon at the Appomattox Court House Gift Store for convincing me to get it, it's a neat little artifact and makes for a good gift book.

Now, as for the text itself, it's pretty interesting! Mostly in that it looks a *lot* like the US Constitution besides some interesting addition and subtractions and evolutions here or there. The President, for example, can only run for one term of 6 years. Amendments don't come from Congress but from the States themselves.

And, oh yeah, slavery is very much baked right in. The most prominent rights enumerated are about nothing getting in the way of slave states doing their thing.

(Interestingly, international slave trade is specifically banned, but given the rest of the constitution, it's clear this wasn't out of any particular humanitarian bent to the infant nation)

[Erin]

A reprint of the Confederate Constitution shows that the Confederate states envisioned a government similar to that of the US, but with even more checks and balances. Interestingly, it also strictly forbid the importation of slaves from Africa or from any outside state. A document of historical importance.

[Jim]

The Confederate Consitution is critical reading for any student of the Civil War. Kudos to whoever uploaded the Kindle edition, the text is clear and without any errors.

[Johann Lilly]

Important to understand history. As another reviewer pointed out, it parallels the US Constitution but the slavery clauses stand out rather than States’ rights.

[Trae]

Ill-inspired and unoriginal.

[John Arden]

It's an interesting read from a historical perspective. There's not really much else to be said about it.

[Thomas J. Hosker]

Confederate Constitution

Interesting read, particularly the sections on slavery. Mirrors the US Constitution in most ways. I recommend it to any history buff.

[Cam]

Aside from the parts enshrining slavery protections, this is a solid constitution.

[Renee]

Full of insightful information that will probably surprise some readers!

[Cormacjosh]

Ultimately not that much different from the Federal Constitution, but there are some interesting differences. Obviously, a law banning the actions of The Fugitive Slave Act was part of it; but they also maintained the 1808 ban on importation of Slaves which I found surprising. The tariffs at question ( which certain individuals barely acknowledge these days if at all ) are banned. It is also interesting in that it is a law that each bill shall consist of but one topic; there are no riders. I think if we adopted that into our Present Constitution it would be an improvement. There have been recent efforts to pass a law to that effect, but they never seem to go much of anywhere.

This was an impulse buy because I needed $2.00 to get Free shipping from Amazon. Having seven copies of the Federal Constitution, Two copies of The Federalist Papers, The Anti Federalist Papers, and The Articles of Confederation, The Confederate Constitution was a gap in my collection now filled.

I also noted that though I purchased this from Amazon it was printed locally in Blacksburg, VA. !! Small world, isn't it?

[Bread]

mostly a copy-paste of the US constitution. the most significant changes, of course, are in fundamentally affirming the property rights of slave-owners to specifically negro slaves. no law can be passed that impaired slavery. & if a state wanted to join the confederacy, it must uphold slavery. wrt some other issues, states rights are emphasised, although to a lesser extent than one might expect. it also makes the presidency a single six year term, required that every bill relates only to one subject & gives the president a line-item veto, bans tariffs, prevents the central gov from any public works expenditure, & requires the post office to be self-funding (lmao)

[Jessica Roberts]

My, some painful pieces of history can be amusing

Firstly, there are parallels between the Confederate constitution and the original US constitution are numerous. But the differences are telling. Many of the complaints the South had were addressed, such as slaves would still be property even when going from state to state. The states would have sovereignty, and the role of the Confederate government was well defined. So were the role of the individual states.

[Judith Hunt]

Very interesting

I thought this book was interesting. The constitution of the south was almost identical to the u.s constitution . it was sad that the north and South had to go to war.

[John Yelverton]

What I find to be the most amazing part about this document is how much it is nearly identical to the Constitution of the United States. Where it differs is what truly shows the causes of the War Between the States. I wish more people would read this document.

[Maurice "Mo" Ottinger]

Good layout

Hard to tell if punctuation is original, but if not there are a few errors that detract from the flow,

[Michał Wojas]

I liked the term limits and more Christian tilt in the preamble. Very similar to the constitution of the United States.

3 stars = liked reading

[David Flax]

The Confederate Constitution very wisely took out the welfare clause which is in the U.S. Constitution. This clause, which had been intended by the Fathers of the Republic to be truly general and equitable in governance over Sovereign States who willingly formed a Confederation, was taken out of context as early as 1799, a mere ten years after the U.S. Constitution had been ratified by 9 of the 13 Sovereignties. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, with their Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, noted how the misuse of the welfare clause was and would continue to lead into a more robust, and therefore, dangerous centralized power. The war caused by Lincoln, wherein the States were robbed of their Sovereignty, wherein we all are living with less and less liberty, is a testament to what happens when limited government under a formed confederacy pushes past set boundaries and gives unto itself unlimited power. God Bless the South and the Confederacy. Those brave men and women were fighting for not just themselves but posterity. God Bless them!