Constitution of the Confederate States

The Constitution of the Confederate States was the supreme law of the Confederate States of America. It was adopted on March 11, 1861, and was in effect from February 22, 1862, to the conclusion of the American Civil War (May 1865).[1] The Confederacy also operated under a Provisional Constitution from February 8, 1861, to February 22, 1862.[2] The original Provisional Constitution is located at the American Civil War Museum in Richmond, Virginia,[3] and differs slightly from the version later adopted. The final, handwritten Constitution is located in the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library at the University of Georgia.[3] Most of its provisions are word-for-word duplicates from the United States Constitution; however, there are crucial differences between the two documents in tone and legal content, primarily regarding slavery.