Question

What observations do you make about their choices? How do you think free or enslaved African Americans may have felt as their humanity was debated? Write three to five sentences summarizing your response to the question, "What conclusions can you draw about the men who wrote the Constitution?"

Answer 1

The men who wrote the Constitution were willing to compromise on the issue of slavery in order to secure a strong federal government. They valued political stability and the preservation of the union above the rights of enslaved African Americans. This indicates a prioritization of their own interests and economic prosperity over the humanity and rights of others. Enslaved African Americans may have felt dehumanized and powerless as their fundamental rights were debated and ultimately ignored by the men crafting the nation's founding document.