The 1847 Constitution
Adopted simultaneously with the Declaration of Independence on July 26, 1847, the first Constitution of Liberia established the legal and governmental framework of the new republic. The document was drafted with assistance from Harvard University and was closely modeled on the Constitution of the United States — reflecting the political formation and cultural identity of the Americo,Liberian settler class who built it.
Three Branches of Government
The Constitution established a republic with three branches: an Executive Branch headed by a president and vice president; a bicameral Legislature divided into a Senate and House of Representatives; and an independent Judiciary anchored by a Supreme Court. Checks and balances between the three branches were built in to prevent the concentration of power.
First Elections and the Limits of Citizenship
The first elections were held in 1847, and Joseph Jenkins Roberts was elected as Liberia’s first president, inaugurated on January 3, 1848. The right to vote and to hold public office was initially extended only to persons of African descent who owned property, effectively limiting full political participation to male members of the Americo, Liberian community.
Indigenous Exclusion and Later Reform
Indigenous Liberians, who made up the vast majority of the population, were explicitly excluded from citizenship until 1904, when birthright citizenship was extended. The structural inequalities embedded in the 1847 Constitution contributed to the tensions that ultimately produced the military coup of 1980 and the civil wars of the late 20th century.
Legacy of the Constitution
The 1847 Constitution remained in force, with amendments until the military coup of 1980. A new constitution was adopted in 1986. The 1847 document nonetheless remains the foundational charter of Liberian statehood.
Sources:
Wikipedia — Liberian Declaration of Independence [3];
Britannica — Liberia History [5];
History.state.gov [6]