Georgia Adopts Constitution Abolishing Primogeniture

Summary

During the American Revolutionary War, Georgia's constitutional convention completed work on the state's first constitution on February 5, 1777. The document, drafted amid efforts to establish independent governance, included Article LI that explicitly abolished entail and primogeniture. Under the new rules, estates of those dying intestate would be divided equally among children, with provisions for widows, rejecting British inheritance practices that favored eldest sons. This made Georgia the first U.S. state to enact such reforms. The changes reflected colonial experiences where younger sons sought opportunities in America free from European restrictions.

Why It Matters

Georgia's 1777 reforms influenced inheritance laws across other states, promoting more equitable property distribution and aligning with revolutionary ideals of equality. The abolition of primogeniture and entail helped reshape land ownership patterns in the early republic. It contributed to broader legal shifts away from British feudal traditions toward American democratic principles.

Related Portfolio Site

America 250 Atlas: Georgia Adopts Constitution Abolishing Primogeniture is part of U.S. presidential, constitutional, or national civic history.

Sources

1. Georgia constitution abolishes primogeniture and entail, HISTORY.com. Accessed 2026-07-08.