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Lesson

Slavery and the Constitution

Duration
105 min
Grade
9–12
Published
Nov 5, 2020
Black and white historical photograph of individuals working in a field, using hand tools to cultivate the land.
Today there are few more controversial topics in the study of American history and government than the issue of slavery and the Constitution. On the surface, the Constitution seemed to protect slavery in the states, prohibited Congress from banning the slave trade for twenty years, and required that fugitive slaves, even in the North, be returned to their masters. Because of these apparent constitutional protections, a bloody Civil War was fought to free the slaves and win ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to end slavery in the U.S. forever. The Constitution, therefore, in the eyes of some scholars, seems to be a contradiction to the universal ideals of liberty and equality in the American Founding and the Declaration of Independence which proclaimed “all men are created equal” and endowed with “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Founding Principles

Natural/Inalienable Rights, Equality

Guiding Questions

  • To what extent was the presence of slavery in America a direct contradiction to the universal ideals of liberty and equality in the American Founding and the Declaration of Independence?

Objectives

  • Examine the founding documents and other primary sources to analyze whether the presence of slavery in America was in conflict with the founding principles.

Materials

Educator Resources

Student Handouts

Lesson Components

ActivityHandout A: The United States Constitution – Slavery and the Constitution
ActivityHandout B: Slavery and the Constitution
ActivityHandout C: Documents Summary Table
ActivityHandout D: Dred Scott Case Background
ActivityHandout E: Slavery Advertisement and Handbill
ActivityHandout F: Declaration of Independence Draft and Final Version
ActivityHandout G: Laws About Slavery
ActivityHandout H: Dred Scott v. Sanford Opinions
ActivityHandout I: Speeches on the Dred Scott Decision
ActivityHandout J: Emancipation Proclamation, January 1, 1863
EssayEssay: Slavery and the Constitution

Today there are few more controversial topics in the study of American history and government than the issue of slavery and the Constitution. On the surface, the Constitution seemed to protect slavery in the states, prohibited Congress from banning the slave trade for twenty years, and required that fugitive slaves, even in the North, be returned to their masters. Because of these apparent constitutional protections, a bloody Civil War was fought to free the slaves and win ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to end slavery in the U.S. forever. The Constitution, therefore, in the eyes of some scholars, seems to be a contradiction to the universal ideals of liberty and equality in the American Founding and the Declaration of Independence which proclaimed “all men are created equal” and endowed with “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

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Lesson plan

105 minClick a phase to open it

Key Terms

James Madison
equality
Founders
popular sovereignty
property

Standards

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