Slavery in the Constitution

WARM UP: Which Job belongs to which branch of Government

Groups:

(a) Legislative Branch

,

(b) Executive Branch

,

(c) Judicial Branch

,

(d) Voters

• Enforce Laws
• Ensure Fair Trials
• Review Lower Court Decisions
• Protect Rights and Liberties
• Write Laws

• Interpret Laws
• Cast Votes
• Appoint Cabinet Members
• Engage in Political Discussions
• Conduct Hearings

• Attend Town Hall Meetings
• Approve Budgets

What is the speaker's main point about the relationship between America's stated ideals and its historical reality?

• America has always perfectly embodied its founding principles.

• America's stated ideals have often been at odds with its actual practices, particularly concerning certain groups.

• The US Constitution is a flawless document that guarantees freedom for all.

• The concept of American identity is too complex to be understood.

Why was the word "slave" intentionally omitted from the US Constitution?

• The framers believed slavery would soon end, making the term obsolete.

• They wanted to avoid explicitly acknowledging slavery due to its moral implications and potential judgment from history.

• The term "enslaved person" was preferred for legal documents.

• The Constitution only addressed the rights of free citizens.

What was the main function of the Three-Fifths Compromise in the U.S. Constitution?

• To establish a timeline for the abolition of slavery in all states.

• To determine how enslaved individuals would be counted for both representation in Congress and direct taxation.

• To grant enslaved individuals partial voting rights in federal elections.

• To ensure that all free persons were counted equally for population-based representation.

What was the primary effect of the Slave Trade Clause in the U.S. Constitution?

• It immediately ended the importation of enslaved people into the United States.

• It allowed states to individually ban the slave trade before 1808.

• It prevented the federal government from prohibiting the importation of enslaved individuals until the year 1808.

• It imposed a tax of ten dollars on each imported enslaved person, effectively ending the trade.