A constitutional referendum was held in

Maryland Colony The Province of Maryland was an English and later British colony in North America that existed from 1632 until 1776, when it joined the other twelve of the Thirteen Colonies in rebellion against Great Britain and became the U.S. state of Maryland ...

on 29 March 1854.Maryland in Liberia (Liberia), 29 March 1854: Constitution
Direct Democracy The new constitution was approved by voters and

general elections A general election is a political voting election where generally all or most members of a given political body are chosen. These are usually held for a nation, state, or territory's primary legislative body, and are different from by-elections ( ...

were subsequently held on 15 May, before independence was declared on 8 June.

Background

The Maryland State Colonization Society was established in

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

in 1830. The group established the Maryland Colony in Africa on 22 February 1834.The African repository, Volume 14, p42 After

Liberia Liberia (), officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to Liberia–Sierra Leone border, its northwest, Guinea to its north, Ivory Coast to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean ...

declared independence in 1847, the desire for independence also grew in Maryland, and the settlers presented a petition to the authorities for a referendum, which was held in January 1853 and approved by 100% of voters.Maryland in Liberia (Liberia), 31 January 1853: Independence
Direct Democracy In February 1854 elections for a Constitutional Council were held. The Council subsequently produced a constitution making the territory a

presidential republic A presidential system, or single executive system, is a form of government in which a head of government, typically with the title of president, leads an executive branch that is separate from the legislative branch in systems that use separation ...

with a

bicameral Bicameralism is a type of legislature, one divided into two separate assemblies, chambers, or houses, known as a bicameral legislature. Bicameralism is distinguished from unicameralism, in which all members deliberate and vote as a single grou ...

legislature. The House of Representatives would have five members serving two year terms and the Senate four members serving four year terms. The presidential term would be two years. Elections would be held under universal suffrage for "colored" men, and only Maryland citizens would be able to own property.

References

{{Republic of Maryland elections

Referendums in the Republic of Maryland

Constitutional referendums Election and referendum articles with incomplete results