“F” is for Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina (1669-1698). Part constitution and part promotional tract, the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina comprised a much revised document that the Lords Proprietors devised to govern their New World province. Anthony Ashley Cooper, a Whig politician and chief proprietor is credited with being the primary author—but other scholars have given some credit to social philosopher John Locke—Cooper’s secretary. The highly structured Fundamental Constitutions, with a complicated system of government, has been called anachronistic, and the emphasis on landownership and tenancy has been deemed feudalistic. However, South Carolina’s historic legacy of religious diversity can be traced to the document. From 1669 to 1698 the proprietors promulgated four amended versions of the Fundamental Constitutions—but none of them was ever officially adopted as a governing document for the Carolina colony.
"F” is for Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina (1669-1698)
