Constitution of the Confederate States

The 1861 secessionist charter closely modeled on the US original while entrenching slavery.

Overview

Adopted in March 1861 by the seceded slave states, the Confederate Constitution consciously copied much of the US Constitution while making explicit protections for slavery in any future territory, prohibiting protective tariffs, and limiting the presidency to a single six year term. It strengthened states rights rhetoric but in practice centralized war powers considerably. Vice President Alexander Stephens framed its cornerstone as the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man. It died with the Confederacys defeat in 1865, leaving a cautionary study in constitutional borrowing with contrary moral foundations.