The U.S. Constitution: Proslavery or Antislavery?
Axia College of University of Phoenix
The Constitution was written “to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.” Slavery is a prominent part of the United States history and I believe, as many famous historians did, that the Constitution was written proslavery. The constitution is made up of seven articles several sections (in many of the articles), and 27 different amendments. Rodriguez (2008) says that four passages were used in the constitution to help those who supported slavery to uphold their political power and try to keep slavery alive. The words “slave” or “slavery” never appear in the text of the constitution so in all actuality the meaning of those four passages can be interpreted in many ways. Article one section two of the Constitution speaks of slaves counting as only three fifths of a person. Clause one of article one section nine, discusses not having the power to ban slavery until the year 1808 and it was written in 1787. Section two of article four addresses the issue of Free states protecting slaves. Article five reinforces the first clause of article one section nine. The thirteenth amendment is the only amendment that directly addresses slavery. The thirteenth amendment indicates that slavery is acceptable as long as it is only used as a form of punishment.
This is a picture of Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey later became known as Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass was born on February 14, 1818 as a slave in Talbot County, Maryland. Douglass escaped Slavery on September 3, 1838 and became known as “The Sage of Anacostia" and "The Lion of Anacostia," Douglass became an editor, author, statesman, reformer, and an American abolitionist. Root (2006) says that after Douglass escaped from slavery, he sent his...