Slavery and the Constitution

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Slavery and the Constitution
Slavery in North America was brought by the British colonialist who participated in the trans-Atlantic trade. The physique of the African American people was particularly favorable for the farming activities in North America where tobacco and rice plantations flourished. With the option of cheap labor, the whites ignored the urge to keep their morals because the economy was a dominant factor when making decisions. The laws did not consider the rights of the slaves at the moment as they were just seen as properties of their owners and no one had a right to question how their masters handled them. But with time Quakers became concerned with the nature of the treatment of the slaves and prompted for their freedom and liberty which was received with substantial resistance but later succeeded during the drafting of the constitution.
The African American slaves were themselves the front runners in fighting for their rights and driving for the abolition of slavery. They used aspects like religions and the power of some of their masters who with time understood their pleas and considered struggle for independence. Ministers like David George, Andrew Bryan, and George Liele were instrumental in stirring the revolution of the slaves. Thomas Jefferson was among the whites who vouched for the abolishment of slavery in the new world; he does this by provoking and accusing King George of Britain of instigating and supporting slavery even though he had 200 slaves himself (“Jefferson On Slavery “).

He argued that the slaves be sent back to Africa and be colonized at their home country and not to mix the races in America. The continental congress of the colonialist from the thirteen colonies voted for the halting of the slave trade; this was in tandem with their intention to shut down the British trade in America.
In defense of slavery, the most notable people were the White colonialist in the South, parts of Georgia, South Carolina. This was because they were the ones who were most likely to lose a great deal as the Slaves were a source of cheap and efficient labor. With their growing plantations and the need to have a large workforce, they had bought slaves who propelled the thriving agricultural economy at the time. Reverend Peter Fontaine also was vocal in campaigning for the continuation of slavery arguing that they were not morally wrong buying the slaves as that was the only option they were provided (“Africans In America | Part 2”). He blamed the black people themselves who captured other black people in their home countries and sold them to slavery. The British colonialists were also reluctant in granting freedom to the slaves in the Northern colonial territories; this was because the slaves worked in their booming industries and were also an item of their trade.
In the overall struggle by both sides of the debate to either end or fuel slavery, the slaves saw hope initially from the British colonialists and opted to remain loyalists. This was after the proclamation by the then governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, who promised freedom to the slaves who chose to leave their masters and join the British army. The constitution that was formulated by delegates from the 13 states or colonies after the declaration of independence regulated slavery in the newly independent America. Article 1 section 9 gave the different states the power to make decisions about slavery until 1808 where Congress will have the power to abolish slave trade (“The Constitution Of The United States: A Transcription”). This was after a compromise to suit the southerners who had the majority of slaves. Most states outlawed slavery after the constitution, and this was the beginning of hope that the slaves and their children will soon have liberty and freedom.
Works Cited
“Africans in America | Part 2”. Pbs.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 2 Dec. 2016.
“Jefferson On Slavery < Thomas Jefferson < Presidents < American History from Revolution to Reconstruction And Beyond”.. Let.rug.nl. N.p., 2016. Web. 2 Dec. 2016.
“The Constitution Of The United States: A Transcription”. National Archives. N.p., 2016. Web. 2 Dec. 2016.