In 1865, 45 years had passed since the first Constitution of Missouri had been written. Times had changed. The state was no longer a mass of frontier settlements. It was still involved in the Civil War. There were open political wounds needing strong action.The time had come for a new constitution.One was developed, only to produce controversy, conflict and the greatest housecleaning of political officeholders in Missouri History.

AOWM January 6, 2005