1784 Constitution

The 1784 Constitution was an early set of guidelines for governing North Carolina, created after independence from Britain. It established the structure of government, including the General Assembly as the main legislative body. The Constitution reflected a cautious approach to democracy, limiting power to prevent any single group from becoming too dominant. It also outlined voting rights, property requirements, and rules for holding office. While it aimed to protect individual rights and maintain order, it had restrictions that favored landowners and the wealthy. Overall, it laid foundational principles for state governance but was eventually replaced by a more comprehensive constitution in 1868.