Constitution of The State of Colorado - Chronology of The Colorado Constitution

Chronology of The Colorado Constitution

• In June 1858, Green Russell finds placer gold along the South Platte River in western Kansas Territory, inciting the Pike's Peak Gold Rush.
• The first election in the gold fields is held for officers of Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory, on 1859-03-03. Unfortunately, voters are unaware that the Kansas Territorial Legislature split Arapahoe County into six new counties four weeks earlier on 1859-02-07.

• A constitutional convention meeting in Denver City proposes a new State of Jefferson to govern the gold fields in April 1859.
• The first Jefferson Constitutional Convention meeting in Denver City adopts a proposed Constitution of the State of Jefferson on 1859-08-01. This proposed state constitution is a modified version of the second Constitution of the State of Iowa that was drafted two years earlier.
• Voters of the gold fields reject statehood as premature on 1859-09-05.
• The second Jefferson Constitutional Convention meeting in Denver City adopts a proposed Constitution of the Territory of Jefferson on 1859-10-03. This proposed territorial constitution is a modified version of the rejected state constitution that was drafted two months earlier.
• By a vote of 2163 to 280, voters approve the creation of the free Territory of Jefferson on 1859-10-24. The new territory includes portions of the Territory of Kansas, the Territory of Nebraska, the Territory of New Mexico, the Territory of Utah, and the Territory of Washington. The United States Congress refuses to recognize the new citizen-initiated territory because of the precarious balance of power between the free states and the slave states. The Jefferson Territory governs the region until 1861 with little interference from the federal government.
• On 1860-10-01, Denver City voters approve the Constitution of the People's Government of Denver, an independent municipal government.
• An Act Admitting the State of Kansas to the Union is enacted by Congress and signed into law by President James Buchanan on 1861-01-29. The act includes only the eastern two-thirds of the Territory of Kansas in the new state, and leaves the western portion of the Kansas Territory (claimed by the Territory of Jefferson) unorganized.

• An Organic Act for the Territory of Colorado is enacted by Congress and signed into law by President James Buchanan on 1861-02-28. The free Territory of Colorado occupies the greater southeastern portion of the extralegal Territory of Jefferson, but is 41% less extensive. Congress ironically names the new U.S. territory for a river that does not flow through it.
• Abraham Lincoln becomes the 16th President of the United States on 1861-03-04.
• The Confederate attack on Fort Sumter initiates the American Civil War on 1861-04-12. Though the citizens of Colorado hail from many states and countries, the vast majority remain staunchly pro-Union.

• An Enabling Act for the State of Colorado is enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on 1864-03-21.
• The first Colorado Constitutional Convention meeting in Denver City adopts a proposed Constitution of the State of Colorado on 1864-07-11. This proposed state constitution was inspired by the Wyandotte Constitution of the State of Kansas drafted in 1859.
• By a vote of 1520 to 4672, Colorado voters reject the first proposed Colorado State Constitution on 1864-10-11, primarily because it includes a preselected slate of candidates for state and national office.
• President Lincoln is assassinated and dies on 1865-04-15. The Republican-led Congress soon spars with the new Democratic President Andrew Johnson.
• The second Colorado Constitutional Convention adopts a second proposed Constitution of the State of Colorado on 1865-08-12.
• Colorado voters approve the second proposed Constitution for the State of Colorado on 1865-09-01. Fearing a strengthened Republican majority in Congress, President Andrew Johnson refuses to declare the statehood of Colorado.
• Frustrated by the President's refusal to declare the statehood of Colorado, Congress approves a Colorado Statehood Bill, but President Andrew Johnson vetoes the measure on 1866-05-15.
• Congress approves a second Colorado Statehood Bill, but President Johnson vetoes this bill also on 1867-01-28.

• The United States House of Representatives votes to impeach President Andrew Johnson on 1868-02-24.
• The United States Senate votes to acquit President Andrew Johnson on 1868-05-26.
• Ulysses S. Grant becomes the 18th President of the United States on 1869-03-04
• Congress fails to pass a third Colorado Statehood Bill in 1869.
• Congress fails to pass a fourth Colorado Statehood Bill in 1871.
• Congress fails to pass a fifth Colorado Statehood Bill in 1873.
• In his Fifth Annual Message to Congress on 1873-12-01, President Ulysses S. Grant endorses a second Enabling Act for the State of Colorado.

• The second Enabling Act for the State of Colorado is enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on 1875-03-03.
• On 1875-10-25, Colorado voters elect delegates to the third Colorado Constitutional Convention.
• The third Colorado Constitutional Convention meeting in Denver adopts a third proposed Constitution of the State of Colorado on 1876-03-14. This proposed state constitution was inspired by the third Constitution of the State of Illinois drafted in 1870, the fourth Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania drafted in 1873, and the third Constitution of the State of Missouri drafted in 1875. The Colorado Constitution was, and still is, one of the lengthiest of the state constitutions of the United States.
• By a vote of 15,443 to 4039, Colorado voters approve the third proposed Constitution of the State of Colorado on 1876-07-01.
• The nation celebrates the Centennial of the United States on 1876-07-04, despite the shocking news of the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
• President Ulysses S. Grant proclaims that the Territory of Colorado has been accepted into the Union as the State of Colorado on 1876-08-01. The 38th State is immediately nicknamed the Centennial State.
• The Constitution of the State of Colorado has been amended 152 times from 1876 through 2007.