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Constitution: Was It A Pro-Slavery Document - School Essays

Constitution: Was It A Pro-Slavery Document

Throughout history people have argued whether the U.S. constitution was a pro or anti-slavery document prior to the thirteenth amendment. I believe that when our founding fathers wrote the constitution they knew that slavery was an issue amongst the states, but were more focused on forging a new nation. By focusing on forging a new nation the U.S. forgot about slavery as an issue. I personally think that the constitution was a pro-slavery document when first written. Even though in the constitution the words slave, slavery, and slave trade do not appear anywhere in the constitution I can see where it is mentioned by using other words in some of the articles of the constitution.
There ...

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Basically it was a gift to slaveholding states because the 3/5ths clause would determine the states number of congressional representatives they would get. Even though the slaves did not have the same rights as the other citizens and could not have their interests brought up by their representatives they are still counted. What this meant was that the states with slaves would get more congressional representation and more political power because the slaves would be counted even though people believed that slaves weren’t citizens but property with no basic freedoms. A prime example of this is when John Adams was running for his second term against Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson who was from Virginia a slaveholding state won over Adams because of the bonus electors that he got from the 3/5ths clause.
Another article that supports slavery in the constitution is Article 1 section 9 which states “the migration or importations of such persons as any of the states now existing shall think ...

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Constitution: Was It A Pro-Slavery Document. (2011, March 20). Retrieved January 22, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Constitution-Was-It-Pro-Slavery-Document/96393

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 3/20/2011 05:57:04 PM
Submitted By: RH1985
Category: African Studies
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 578
Pages: 3

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