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Texas Conventions and Constitutions

The collections on this page represent the results of special conventions held to decide major issues of state. The Texas Declaration of Independence is a result of the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos. The majority of the conventions have been to create or re-draft the state constitution. A government constitution sets out the fundamental principles and common rules by which that government operates. In this context, a constitutional convention is used to either draft or re-draft a government’s constitution. This can be differentiated from a constitutional amendment, which either adds to or alters specific aspects of an existing constitution without re-writing the whole. These collections represent the records of specific constitutional conventions. Only the resulting constitutions themselves have been digitized and are part of the Texas Digital Archive.

Texas Declaration of Independence| Constitutional Convention of 1866| Constitutional Convention of 1868-1869 | Constitutional Convention of 1875

Texas Declaration of Independence, 1836 March 2

Texas Declaration of Independence

Creator: Texas. Convention (1836 : Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site (Tex.))
Title: Texas Declaration of Independence
Dates: 1836 March 2
Abstract: This document is the Texas Declaration of Independence, completed and approved by vote on March 2, 1836. The 59 delegates attending the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos, each representing one of the settlements in Texas, signed the declaration over the next several days, after which five copies were made and dispatched to the designated Texas towns of Bexar, Goliad, Nacogdoches, Brazoria, and San Felipe. One thousand copies were ordered to be printed in handbill form by the printer in San Felipe, to circulate the news. This document has been digitized and is part of the Texas Digital Archive.

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Texas Constitutional Convention of 1866 records, 1866

Signature page of 1866 Constitution

Creator: Texas. Constitutional Convention (1866)
Title: Texas Constitutional Convention of 1866 records
Dates: 1866
Abstract: The Texas Constitutional Convention of 1866 was formed to develop a Texas constitution to meet the requirements set forth by the United States for Texas’s reentry into the Union. Records of the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1866 include the 1866 Constitution, an executive message, constitutional amendments, ordinances, committee reports, resolutions, and appropriations, all dated 1866. The constitution has been digitized and is part of the Texas Digital Archive.

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Texas Constitutional Convention of 1868-1869 records, 1867-1871, undated

Signature page of 1868 Constitution

Creator: Texas. Constitutional Convention (1868-1869)
Title: Texas Constitutional Convention of 1868-1869 records
Dates: 1867-1871, undated
Abstract: The Texas Constitutional Convention of 1868-1869 was called by the commander of the US Fifth Military District to comply with the Congressional Reconstruction Acts. Records of the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1868-1869 include declarations, an executive message, resolutions, constitutional amendments, petitions, committee reports (majority and minority), State Treasurer’s reports, oaths, executive messages, correspondence, schedule of mileage, and a photostat of the 1869 Constitution, dating 1867-1871 and undated. Only the constitution has been digitized and is part of the Texas Digital Archive.

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Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875 records, 1875

Signature page of 1876 Constitution

Creator: Texas. Constitutional Convention (1875)
Title: Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875 records
Dates: 1875
Abstract: The Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875 was formed as a consequence of the resumption of Democratic control of the state of Texas in 1872 and resulting demand for a new constitution. Records of the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875 include the 1876 Constitution, an executive message, ordinances, resolutions, articles, correspondence, committee reports and working papers, bids for printing, vouchers for postage, a contract and a petition, dated all 1875. Only the constitution has been digitized and is part of the Texas Digital Archive.

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