Amendments 11 through 27 formalized the end of American slavery, preserved the rights of the accused through the creation of Due Process, and gave women the right to vote. But a lot of the proposed amendments were duds.
In 1838, it was proposed that anyone who participated in dueling be prohibited from holding public office. This came days after Rep. William J. Graves, a Whig from Kentucky, fatally shot Rep. Jonathan Cilley, a Democrat from Maine, in a duel in Bladensburg, Md.
In 1846, there was a call for presidential election by lottery. Each state would choose a candidate, and then the name of each state would be written on a number of balls equal to the number of congressmen in that state. A ball would be picked at random and the chosen state’s candidate would become president.
In 1860, one proposed amendment called to replace the presidency with an executive council.
In 1861, just a month before the Civil War, the Corwin Amendment made it through Congress to prevent slavery from being abolished.
In 1866, it was suggested that the country’s name be changed simply to “America.”
In 1886, it was suggested that instead of one vice president there be three.
In 1893, it was proposed that the United States of America change its name to the United States of the World.
In 1912, a proposed amendment would have prohibited blacks from marrying outside their skin color.
In 1938, someone had the idea to outlaw drunkenness, at any time or any place.
