Texas Constitution
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Comparing and Contrasting the US and Texas Constitution
Throughout the tumultuous history of Texas, we have been governed under seven different constitutions with each document reflecting the current trends, beliefs, and needs of the people of that time. The first constitution that Texans became familiar with was that the Constitution of Coahuila y Tejas in 1827. Most non-Hispanic Texans felt this constitution did not protect their rights and after the Republic of Texas declared independence from Mexico in 1836, a new "Texan" constitution was drafted. Following Texas' admittance into the Union, yet another constitution was written called the Texas State Constitution in 1845. In 1861, Texas withdrew from the Union, joined with the Confederate States of America, and drafted their fourth constitution. The fifth constitution followed shortly after the end of the Civil War and Texas' readmission to the Union. The Constitution of 1869 reflected a time of Reconstruction, during which time the Texas government had more control and became more oppressive, while the seventh and final Constitution of 1876 resounded with an opposition to the Reconstruction government revealing a general feeling of distrust in the government and a detailed plan to prevent expansive government control from occurring again in the future.
Like the US Constitution, its writers had a common lack of trust of the government and wanted to retain a limited government control and prevent any actions that were against the interest of the people. Both were drafted in secret and no official records where kept of the discussions being held. Both constitutions contain a Bill of Rights which mirror each other and help to protect certain basic rights such as freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, right to bear arms, protection against seizure of property, etc...