Evolution of Arkansas State Constitutions: A Historical Analysis
Explore the evolution of Arkansas state constitutions through different time periods, from 1836 to 1874, reflecting the state's journey from territory to statehood, secession from the Union, Civil War, Union occupation, Reconstruction Era, and the writing of the final constitution. Students will analyze and compare the preambles of each constitution, identifying changes in objectives and circumstances over the years.
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1979 Arkansas State Constitutional Convention Digital Curriculum Guide
Exercise 2 ~ Preambles Through the Years Curriculum Guide OVERVIEW & PURPOSE The State of Arkansas has had five different constitutions. Each constitution reflected the time period under which it was written. The first constitution was adopted in 1836 when Arkansas became a state after the Missouri Compromise. The 1861 Constitution was adopted when Arkansas chose to follow other Southern states and secede from the Union and join the Confederate States at the onset of the Civil War. The 1864 Constitution resulted from the Union occupation of the majority of the state during the final years of the war. The 1868 Constitution was submitted to the U.S. government as a condition for re-admittance to the Union when the Confederate States were defeated. The final and current constitution was re-written one last time in 1874 to reflect the national changes that occurred after the war, as well as a response to the corruption of the Republican Reconstruction inflicted on the South. Students will read the preambles to each constitution and reflect on and identify the differences between each one.
Exercise 2 ~ Preambles Through the Years Curriculum Guide OBJECTIVES 1. Students will be able to identify how the circumstances of the respective time periods determined the objectives for the various Arkansas State Constitutions. 2. Students will be able to identify the changes between being a territory, secession from the Union, Union occupation, re-admittance to the Union, and freedom from the Reconstruction Era.
Exercise 2 ~ Preambles Through the Years Curriculum Guide ACTIVITY 1. The teacher and students will review the timeline of Arkansas as a territory applying for statehood, how Arkansas chose to secede from the Union and become a Confederate state during the Civil War, Union occupation of the state, why they were required to re-write the state constitution as a condition for re-admittance to the Union, then write a final constitution that reflected the national changes and release from Republican Reconstruction. 2. Students will read the five different preambles and identify the differences. After reading, students will create graphic organizers that demonstrate knowledge of the similarities and differences between the preambles.
Exercise 2 ~ Preambles Through the Years Curriculum Guide Preamble ~ 1836 We the people of the Territory of Arkansas by our Representatives in Convention Assembled at Little Rock on Monday the 4th day of January A. D. 1836 and of the Independence of the United States the sixtieth year having the rights of admission into the Union as one of the United States of America, consistent with the Federal Constitution and by virtue of the Treaty of Cession by France to the United States of the Province of Louisiana, in order to Secure to ourselves and our posterity the enjoyment of all the rights of life liberty and property and the free pursuit of happiness do mutually agree with each other to form ourselves into a free and independent state by the name and style of the "State of Arkansas" and do ordain and establish the following Constitution for the government thereof. https://digitalheritage.arkansas.gov/constitutions/
Exercise 2 ~ Preambles Through the Years Curriculum Guide Preamble ~ 1861 We, the people of the State of Arkansas, by our delegates in convention assembled, at Little Rock, on Monday, the fourth day of March, A. D. 1861, having the right to change, alter, or amend our constitution, or organic law, in order to secure to ourselves and our posterity, the enjoyment of all the rights of life, liberty and property, and the pursuit of happiness, do mutually agree with each other to continue ourselves as a free and independent state, by the name and style of "The State of Arkansas" and do ordain and establish the following constitution for the future government thereof. https://digitalheritage.arkansas.gov/constitutions/
Exercise 2 ~ Preambles Through the Years Curriculum Guide Preamble ~ 1864 We, the people of the State of Arkansas having the right to establish for ourselves a constitution in conformity with the constitution of the United States of America recognizing the legitimate consequences of the existing rebellion, do hereby declare the entire action of the late convention of the State of Arkansas, which assembled in the City of Little Rock, on the 4th day of March 1861 was and is null and void; and is not now and never has been binding and obligatory upon the People. That all the action of the State of Arkansas under the authority of said Convention, - of its ordinances, or of its Constitution, - whether legislative, executive, judicial or military (except as hereinafter provided) was and is hereby declared null and void;...(continued on next slide) https://digitalheritage.arkansas.gov/constitutions/
Exercise 2 ~ Preambles Through the Years Curriculum Guide Preamble ~ 1864 ... Provided, that this ordinance shall not be so construed as to affect the rights of individuals or change county boundaries, or county seats or to make invalid the acts of Justices of the Peace, or other Officers in their authority to administer oaths, or take and certify the acknowledgement of deeds of conveyance or other instruments of writing, or in the solemnization of marriages; And provided further, that no debt or liability of the State of Arkansas incurred by the action of said convention or of the legislature or any department of the government under the authority of either, shall ever be recognized as obligatory . (continued on next slide) https://digitalheritage.arkansas.gov/constitutions/
Exercise 2 ~ Preambles Through the Years Curriculum Guide Preamble ~ 1864 ... And we the people of the State of Arkansas in order to establish therein a state government loyal to the Government of The United States, to secure to ourselves and our posterity, the protection and blessing of the Federal Constitution, and the enjoyment of all the rights of liberty, and the free pursuit of happiness, do agree to continue ourselves as a free and independent state, by the name and style of "The State of Arkansas, and do ordain and establish the following constitution for the government thereof. https://digitalheritage.arkansas.gov/constitutions/
Exercise 2 ~ Preambles Through the Years Curriculum Guide Preamble ~ 1868 We, the people of Arkansas, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty and desiring to perpetuate its blessings and secure the same to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution. https://digitalheritage.arkansas.gov/constitutions/
Exercise 2 ~ Preambles Through the Years Curriculum Guide Preamble ~ 1874 We, the People of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government; for our civil and religious liberty; and desiring to perpetuate its blessings, and secure the same to ourselves and posterity; do ordain and establish this Constitution. https://digitalheritage.arkansas.gov/constitutions/
Exercise 2 ~ Preambles Through the Years Curriculum Guide Guiding Questions What noticeable changes do you see from the first preamble to the last preamble? Does each preamble reflect the cultural ideas and/or political changes of the respective time periods? How are the preambles similar? How are they different? Do you feel the current preamble is adequate? What changes would you include if the Arkansas State Constitution were to be re-written?
Exercise 2 ~ Preambles Through the Years Curriculum Guide Arkansas History Grades 7-8 Strand: Civics and Government 1. CG.5.AH.7-8.2: Examine features of government in Arkansas with reference to the Arkansas Constitution. 1. CG.5.AH.7-8.4: Examine rights and responsibilities of citizenship in Arkansas. Strand: History 1. H.7.AH.7-8.1: Evaluate ways that historical events in Arkansas were shaped by circumstances in time and place 2. H.7.AH.7-8.4: Examine effects of Reconstruction in Arkansas using multiple, relevant historical sources (e.g., Brooks-Baxter War, Constitution 1874, Freedmen s Bureau, sharecropping, segregation laws)
Exercise 2 ~ Preambles Through the Years Curriculum Guide Arkansas History Grades 9-12 Strand: Era 6: Modern Era 1968 to Present 1. Era6.6.AH.9-12.3: Analyze the effects of conflicts and their resolutions on the citizens of Arkansas (e.g., the draft, Cold War, defense industry, trade, agriculture, voluntary and involuntary immigration) 1. Era6.6.AH.9-12.4: Analyze ways that Arkansans addressed a variety of public issues by using or challenging local, state, national, and international laws Civics Strand: Participation and Deliberation 1. PD.3.C.1: Evaluate rights and responsibilities of citizens in the United States 2. PD.3.C.3: Construct explanations of the ways citizenship in the United States has changed over time and been affected by public policy, geographic location, state and federal law, and demographics using a variety of sources Strand: Processes, Rules, and Laws 1. PRL.6.C.2: Compare and contrast the formal and informal methods of amending the U.S. Constitution (Arkansas Constitution) 1. PRL.7.C.3: Analyze cooperation and conflict between federal and state governments
Exercise 2 ~ Preambles Through the Years Curriculum Guide Social Studies ~ Grade 8 (United States History 1800-1900) Strand: Era 5: Civil War and Reconstruction, 1850-1877 1. Era5.2.8.5: Evaluate the legacy of the Civil War on the nation 2. Era5.2.8.6: Evaluate successes and failures of Reconstruction (e.g., Reconstruction Plans, Freedman s Bureau, Civil War Amendments, AfricanAmerican economic positions, sharecropping, crop liens, public education, AfricanAmerican role in government)
