Before the U.S. Constitution addressed the issue of slavery, the matter was largely handled at the state level and through other legislative means. During the colonial period and leading up to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, different states had varying approaches to slavery, influenced by their economic, social, and cultural contexts.
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State Decisions: Each of the original thirteen colonies had the authority to determine whether to permit slavery. Some states, particularly in the South, developed economies heavily reliant on slave labor, while others in the North began to abolish slavery or limit it.
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The Articles of Confederation: Even before the Constitution was drafted, the Articles of Confederation did not explicitly address slavery; however, they allowed states to manage slavery in their own jurisdictions.
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The Constitutional Convention: During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates debated the issue of slavery as they crafted the document. The topic was contentious, and compromises were made to ensure the participation of Southern states, which were dependent on slavery for their economies. Notable compromises included the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation in Congress, and provisions allowing the importation of enslaved people to continue until 1808.
Thus, while the original Constitution did not explicitly mention the word "slavery," it implicitly recognized and institutionalized it through these compromises, reflecting the political realities and economic interests of the time.