March 1861

The Confederate Constitution, adopted March 11, 1861, differed from the U.S. Constitution primarily in its explicit, permanent protection of slavery. Article I Section 9 stated 'No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law denying or impairing the right of property in negro slaves shall be passed.' Confederate territories were required to protect slavery. The Confederate government could not pass any law 'denying the right of property in negro slaves.' Unlike the U.S. Constitution's euphemisms ('persons held to service'), the Confederate document used the word 'slavery' and 'negro slaves' directly. The Confederate Constitution made abolition constitutionally impossible — the explicit goal of secession.