+South Carolina’s Constitutions
Read “South Carolina’s First Constitution” on pp. 195-196. Answer the following questions as you
read.
1.
Define a constitution.
A document that sets up the framework of a government and establishes the rules under
which that government will operate
2. In November 1775, South Carolina’s Provincial Congress wrote its representatives at the
Continental Congress and asked whether South Carolina should write a constitution and set
up a formal government in the absence of British leadership. What was their response?
After several days of deliberation, the Continental Congress suggested that the Provincial
Congress write a constitution and set up a temporary government.
3. Complete the following statements concerning the government established in the South
Carolina constitution of 1776.
Established a bicameral legislature
The members of the lower house were elected by the voters.
The lower house elected the members of the upper house.
The upper and lower houses elected a “president” of the state.
The president could not be re-elected but could veto legislation.
4. Who had more representatives in the lower house, the Up Country or the Low Country?
Low Country
5. The Up Country consisted of a greater free white population than the Low Country.
6. Why was the Low Country given a majority of the delegates in the lower house?
Having a majority of the delegates from the Low Country was a way of keeping the
government in the hands of the patriots and the elite.
Read p. 197 and answer the following questions.
1. Why was the issue of writing a constitution important to the colony of South Carolina?
The issue was important to South Carolina because the royal governor had refused to let
the General Assembly meet for several years.
2. What other colony besides South Carolina had inquired about the need to write a
constitution?
New Hampshire
3. According to the excerpt from the 1776 Constitution of South Carolina, identify three
things the British have done to the Americans.
Imprisoned people
Killed colonists
Broke promises
Encouraged Indians to war against the colonists
Seized their property
Freed servants and slaves
4. According to the passage, what had the British encouraged the slaves and Indians to do?
Freed servants and slaves that had been seized
Armed slaves against their masters
Urged Indians to wage war against the colonies
5. Who was allowed to trade with the colonies?
No one
6. For what purpose were the troops and ships sent to America?
To carry on the war against the colonies
Read “South Carolina’s Second Constitution” on pp. 214-215. Answer the following questions as you
read.
1. What was the purpose of the 1776 state constitution?
To provide some stability until the troubles with Great Britain were over.
2. Who had been elected to serve as the first president of South Carolina? Why did he
resign?
John Rutledge
When the new legislature voted to adopt a new constitution, Rutledge resigned and went
home rather than support a new constitution.
3. Complete the following statements concerning the 1778 Constitution of South Carolina.
The president would now be called governor.
The Anglican Church was disestablished, or no longer favored, as the state religion.
Guaranteed freedom of press.
Representation in the lower house of the legislature was shared a little more equally
between the Low Country and the Up Country.