The Constitution and the African Slave Trade (1787) Essay

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The document The Delegates debate the Slave Trade reveals moral assumptions of the slavery abolition in the United States. First of all, the document stresses the need to unite all the states with the purpose of unity of the people. Since slave trade was the most common in the southern states, the rejection of slavery represented in the change of lifestyle, habits, and outlook as a whole was the most difficult for them. Hence, it is a question of humanity. Second, the document takes into consideration opinions of several delegates from all the states. Therefore, it was based on compromise and provides equality. Moreover, the document emphasizes the role of morality in government that plays a significant part in the integration of the country, in the establishment of good relations between citizens, and equal rights for all.

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In my opinion, the wording of the Slave Trade Clause reflects the influence of both proslavery and antislavery delegates. According to Mr. Luther Martin’s antislavery point of view, slavery weakens the Union generally as it weakens some parts of it. Among proslavery tendencies, one may note Oliver Ellsworth’s ideas, who states that the wisdom of slavery is the enrichment of one state enriches the whole country. Thus, he suggested leaving slavery in some Southern states as a tool of country’s well-being. Charles Pinckney, in his turn, supports the issue of slavery in South Carolina, explaining that put on freedom of choice in this question, it might, perhaps, achieve impressive results.

However, the issue of slavery was left to the discretion of states. The text of the Constitution, particularly, the issue raised in the Article 1, Section 9 authorized the importation of slaves.

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"The Constitution and the African Slave Trade (1787)." IvyPanda, 10 May 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/the-constitution-and-the-african-slave-trade-1787/.

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IvyPanda. (2020) 'The Constitution and the African Slave Trade (1787)'. 10 May.

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IvyPanda. 2020. "The Constitution and the African Slave Trade (1787)." May 10, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-constitution-and-the-african-slave-trade-1787/.

1. IvyPanda. "The Constitution and the African Slave Trade (1787)." May 10, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-constitution-and-the-african-slave-trade-1787/.


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IvyPanda. "The Constitution and the African Slave Trade (1787)." May 10, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-constitution-and-the-african-slave-trade-1787/.

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