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Pre-AP – Use your cell phone to research
these years in TX history. Some you should
know, some you won’t. What was going on
then? (1824, 1827, 1836, 1845, 1861, 1866,
1869, and 1876)
On-Level – A constitution tells what a
government may do, must do, and cannot do.
What are some of these things that we
learned last week?
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Many Texans may know
that this land now
called Texas has
existed under the flags
of six different nations.
However, very few
Texans probably know
that during its colorful
history Texas has
existed under 8
different constitutions,
each written and
adopted in a distinct
historical setting.
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1st under which Texas existed
Combined Coahuila and Texas as a single
state
Allowed for states rights
Catholic was the national religion
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Run by a governor and a unicameral congress
Describes the functions of ayuntamientos and
alcaldes
Outlawed torture and the introduction of
slaves
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Influenced by the U.S. document
Created a bicameral Congress
Chief Executive would be a President chosen
by the people
Allowed for slavery and individual rights
Every head of family received a league and
labor of land.
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Generally considered to be the best.
Borrowed ideas from the Republic and
southern states like Louisiana
Chief Executive would be a governor chosen
by the people
A duel would keep you out of office
Lottery was prohibited
Allowed for slavery and passed laws that said
slaves had to “treated w/humanity”.
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Written after Texas secession in the Civil War
to join the Confederate States of America
Basically identical to the 1845 document
Slavery laws were more detailed—Legislature
cannot pass laws to emancipate slaves nor
could an owner emancipate his slaves.
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5th – after the Civil War
Indians, Africans, and descendants of
Africans were still denied the right to vote.
Increased the Supreme Court
Contained a section of the rights of
“Freedmen” related to the 13th Amendment
that outlawed slavery.
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Required to grant African Americans the right
to vote and to ratify the 14th Amendment
Legislature met annually
Governor’s terms were upped to 4 years w/no
term limits
Gave the governor a great deal of power
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“The best government is the least
government.”
Severely reduced the powers of the Governor
(today known as one of the weakest)
Limited the legislature to biennial sessions
Contains lengthy details of local governments
3 Branches have a great deal more
restrictions than in the past