Kearny Code facts for kids
The Kearny Code was a set of important laws created by General Stephen W. Kearny. It was introduced in what is now Santa Fe, New Mexico, on September 22, 1846. This happened during the U.S.-Mexican War, after the United States Army took control of the area. The code was made to help govern the new New Mexico Territory. General Kearny left Santa Fe a few days later to continue fighting in the war.
Contents
What Was the Kearny Code?
The Kearny Code was like a rulebook for the new territory. It was named after General Stephen W. Kearny, who was a key figure in the U.S. Army during the war. This code helped set up how the government would work in New Mexico.
How the Code Was Made
The Kearny Code was printed using a special press owned by Padre Antonio José Martínez. He was a well-known priest from Taos. The main people who put the code together were Colonel Alexander William Doniphan and Lieutenant Willard Preble Hall. They were both soldiers from Missouri.
They didn't make up all the laws from scratch. Instead, they used ideas from other important legal documents. These included:
- The United States Bill of Rights, which protects basic freedoms.
- Laws from the state of Missouri.
- Laws from a Mexican state called Coahuila y Tejas.
- Something called the Livingston Code, which was another set of laws.
Why the Code Was Important
The Kearny Code became the main foundation for laws in New Mexico. It was even sent to the U.S. Congress when the Territory of New Mexico was officially created. Over the years, lawmakers in New Mexico have changed parts of it. But many of its original rules are still in use today, even after New Mexico became a state.
What Was in the Code?
The Kearny Code had three main parts when it was first introduced:
- A Bill of Rights: This section listed important rights for everyone. It didn't just give rights to citizens, but to all persons living in the territory. It included many of the same protections found in the United States Bill of Rights. It also had some rights from Missouri's laws.
- List of Appointments: This part named the people chosen for government jobs in the New Mexico Territory.
- Laws for the Government: These were the actual rules for how the territory would be run. Many of these laws were taken directly from Missouri's laws. Lieutenant Hall, who helped write the code, was a lawyer from Missouri and had copies of these laws with him.
