Constitutions of the American States Before the American Constitutional Convention (1789) : The Original Texts, with Notes

"... we witness the early patriots wrestling with issues like slavery, religion, free speech and eligibility for public office .... These were, after all, people of their time, dealing with their issues of life and death. These are in many ways the same issues we wrestle with today, calling on many of the same ancient philosophical theories, but the changes in language highlight that we are different people than were our forebears"
Dr. George Rodman

Foreword

Introduction

Table: Original Colonies Plus Vermont

Section 1: New England: Constitutions and Organizing Documents

Mayflower Compact (1620)

Fundamental Orders Connecticut

Charter of Rhode Island and Providence Planations (1663)

Constitution of Massachusetts (1780)

Constitution of New Hampshire (1776)

Constitution of New Hampshire (1784)

Section 2: Mid Atlantic: Constitutions and Organizing Documents

Constitution of Delaware (1776)

The Charter or Fundamental Laws of West New Jersey (1676)

The Fundamental Constitutions for the Province of East New Jersey in America, Anno Domini (1683)

Constitution of New Jersey (1776)

Constitution of New York (1777)

Frame of Government of Pennsylvania (1682)

Frame of Government of Pennsylvania (1683)

Frame of Government of Pennsylvania (1696)

Constitution of Pennsylvania (1776)

Section 3: South: Constitutions and Organizing Documents

Constitution of Georgia (1777)

Constitution of Maryland (1776)

The Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina (1669)

The Mecklenburgh Resolutions (1775)

Constitution of South Carolina (1776)

Constitution of South Carolina (1776)

Constitution of South Carolina (1778)

The Constitution of Virginia (1776)

Section 4: Independent State Joins: Constitutions and Organizing Documents

Constitution of Vermont (1777)

Constitution of Vermont (1786)

Admission of the State of Vermont (1791)

Additional Colonial Acts and Works