Why did the Constitution allow slavery to continue if “all
men are created equal”?
In 1787, fifty-five delegates met together in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to craft our nation’s plan of
government. After just fighting a war over the rights of free men, Jefferson’s phrase that “all men are
created equal” was very fresh on everyone’s mind. However, these delegates decided to keep slavery
alive in the United States.
The following quotes are taken from James Madison’s notes written during the convention. As you
read through them, ask yourself if each delegate sees slavery as a problem for the United States. If so,
why? If not, why not? Is it because they see something else as more important for the time being?
“It is inconsistent with the
principles of the revolution and
dishonorable to the American
character to have such a
feature (the slave trade) in the
Constitution. It is inhumane,
embarrassing, and against
everything we have fought for.”
-Luther Martin Maryland
“Let every state do what it
pleases. The morality or
wisdom of slavery are
decisions belonging to the
states themselves… Let us
not interfere in this matter.
As population increases,
poor laborers will be plenty
so as to render slaves
useless. Slavery, in time, will
not be a speck in our
country.”
-Oliver Ellsworth
Connecticut
“I agree to this
Constitution with
all its faults
because I think a
federal government
necessary for us.
When you assemble
a large group of
men, you will
inevitably find
that they will
disagree with each
other about their
local interests,
and their selfish
views, such as
slavery. We have
to accept some of
these
disagreements in
order to build a
national
government.”
-Benjamin Franklin
Pennsylvania
“The true question is
whether or not the
Southern states shall
be a part of this
country. Is it wrong?
Maybe. But, if the
Northern states truly
think about their
interest, they will not
oppose the increase of
slaves because they
will profit by selling
the goods that the
slaves produce.”
-John Rutledge
South Carolina
“Southern states would
not be members of the
union if the slave trade
ended. It is wrong to
force any thing that is
not absolutely
necessary, and which
any state must disagree
to.”
-Hugh Williamson
North Carolina
Why did the Constitution allow slavery to continue if “all
men are created equal”?
“The men at the Constitutional Convention never considered getting rid of
slavery. The Revolutionary talk of freedom and equality had been left behind;
Americans in general and the men at the Convention in particular wanted a
united, well-ordered, and prosperous society in which private property –
including slave property – would be secure.”
-John P. Kaminsky, A Necessary Evil? 1995.
“The Founding Fathers’ racism [was] a barrier to antislavery. Here again
Jefferson typified the age. Jefferson suspected that blacks had lower
intellectual abilities than did whites. These suspicions, together with
Jefferson’s fear that free black and free whites could not live harmoniously in
America, made him and others think that the only way Africans could be free
was if they were sent back to Africa.”
“Slavery hung over the Philadelphia Convention, threatening to divide
northern and southern delegates. Even though slavery existed by law in
-William
Freehling.
Fathers
of Slavery.”
1987.
some of the northern
states
in 1787,“The
mostFounding
people there
favored
its end.
Southerners were more unsure about whether to end slavery, both because
they had significantly greater numbers of slaves to deal with and because
an end to [slavery] had important economic implications. The result was
compromise. The Founding Fathers were more determined to fashion a new
nation than they were to bring an end to slavery.”
-Kermit Hall, The Law of American Slavery, 1987.
“all men are created equal”
Name ______________________________________ Period ______
Directions: Using the quote handout, determine if the following delegates to the Constitutional
Convention saw slavery as a problem for the newly developing United States. Then do the same
regarding the comments given by modern historians. Answer the question in complete sentences.
Delegate/
Historian
Does this person
If so, why? If not, why not? What does this person see as
see slavery as a
more important than ending slavery?
problem?
Views from Delegates to the Constitutional Convention
Luther Martin
Maryland
Oliver
Ellsworth
Connecticut
Ben Franklin
Pennsylvania
John Rutledge
South Carolina
Hugh
Williamson
North Carolina
Views from Modern Historians
John P.
Kaminsky
William
Freehling.
Kermit Hall
1. Based on your analysis of the above quotes, how could we best answer the question: Why did the
Constitution allow slavery to continue if “all men are created equal”? Cite at least two reasons.