South of Broad in Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Constitutional Convention of 1868
March 16, 2018
1. Constitutional Convention of 1868 Marker
Inscription.
Constitutional Convention of 1868. . In January 1868 delegates met to rewrite the S.C. Constitution. They convened at the Charleston Club House, which once stood near here. Before the Civil War the Club House was reserved for Charleston's planter elite, but a majority of the delegates in 1868 were African American, some of them former slaves. The election of delegates to the convention was the first time that African American men voted in S.C.
(Continued on other side)
The 1868 Constitution was a remarkable document for its time. The Declaration of Rights made no distinctions based on race. It created the basis for the state's first public school system, as proposed by Robert Smalls, and guaranteed black male suffrage two years ahead of the 15th Amendment. In 1895, a new constitution would mandate segregated schools, outlaw interracial marriages, and disenfranchise black men. ,
In January 1868 delegates met to rewrite the S.C. Constitution. They convened at the Charleston Club House, which once stood near here. Before the Civil War the Club House was reserved for Charleston's planter elite, but a majority of the delegates in 1868 were African American, some of them former slaves. The election of delegates to the convention was the first time that African American men voted in S.C.
(Continued on other side)
The 1868 Constitution was a remarkable document for its time. The Declaration of Rights made no distinctions based on race. It created the basis for the state's first public school system, as proposed by Robert Smalls, and guaranteed black male suffrage two years ahead of the 15th Amendment. In 1895, a new constitution would mandate segregated schools, outlaw interracial marriages, and disenfranchise black men.
Erected 2018 by The S.C. Civil War Sesquicentennial Advisory Board. (Marker Number 10 100.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1868.
Location. 32° 46.53′ N, 79° 55.859′ W. Marker is in Charleston, South Carolina, in Charleston County. It is in
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South of Broad. Marker is on Meeting Street near Broad Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 69 Meeting St, Charleston SC 29401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 21, 2018. This page has been viewed 525 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on March 21, 2018. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
