The history of slavery in the USA can be traced back to the year 1619 when Dutch traders first brought slaves in the country. Slavery was never a major issue in the US until the country got its independent when leaders started arguing whether the inhumane practice could be allowed to continue. The country was sharply divided between supporters and people who opposed slavery. The controversial debate became more intense during the time of revolution and constitutional convention. Based on the nature of the debate that occurred during the revolution and the constitutional convention, it is clear that trades were treated as property just like any goods that were being sold in the market (Smith, 2017). Even people who supported the end of slavery did not believe that slaves were equal to any human being, including whites in the country. Slaves were treated and presumed to be inferior human beings, especially when compared to whites.
The question of slavery emerged as a national issue during the time of the revolution and the constitutional convention due to the need to address the interests of various states and to find ways of increasing government revenue. For instance, slavery emerged as national issues on the constitutional convention debate that took place on August 21, 1787, when leaders were debating about taxation, especially between states. The leaders were against states taxing goods that were passing through its borders. To increase revenue, states were allowed to impose a tax on imported slaves. North Carolina, for instance, imposed a $5 duty on each slave from Africa, $10 from any other part of the world, and $50 on slaves from other states that allow slavery (Digital History, 2013). It seems that states were determined to increase by charging importation duty on slaves from different parts of the world.
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At the same time, based on the controversial debate that occurred during the constitution convention, slavery became a national issue due to the conflict between north and south states. Northerners were against slavery while southerners supported the practice because it was beneficial to their economic growth and development, especially in the agricultural sector. For instance, L. Martin argued that slaves weakened one section of the union while it strengthened another. As a result, according to Martin, it was not necessary to allow a tax on the importation of slaves (Smith, 2017). According to Smith (2017), Martin further argued that imposing a tax on the importation was not in line with the spirit and principle of the revolution. Mr. Pinkney, on the other hand, maintained that states like South Carolina achieve its plans if the act of slavery was not allowed. Hence, the conflict between northerners and southerners made slavery to emerge as a national issue that needed to be deliberated.
The constitution dealt with the question of slavery by maintaining a middle ground or compromise between supports and opponents of slavery. One of the examples that prove that the constitution compromised the question of slavery is the three-fifths compromise. Opponents of slavery wanted only free people to be counted while supporters of the practices wanted even slaves to be considered as part of the population. As a result, to find the middle ground, the Constitution defined a slave as three-fifths of a white American. The Three-Fifths Compromise was reached to reduce the hostility between southern and northern states (Scott, 2013). At the same time, Digital History (2013) notes that to reach a compromise on the slavery question, Section 9 of the Constitution allowed states to impose a tax on imported slaves. However, the constitution restricted the tax to be not more than ten dollars per every slave imported. The constitution compromised on the question of slavery.
Nevertheless, I do not find this to be an effective solution to the question of slavery. It appeared that both supporters and opponents of slavery agreed that the act is inhuman and should not be allowed in any civilized society like the USA. Reaching a compromise could only enhance hostility between northerners and southerners because the problem of slavery had not been solved as required. A significant number of northerners still held a strong opinion against slavery, even though it was partly allowed by the constitution. As a result, the most appropriate solution would have been to ban any act of slavery in the country. A constitution should be firm decisive to help in addressing some of the challenges or issues that emerge in society.
In conclusion, the founding fathers of the country made it clear that all men are created equal and independent during the declaration of independence. Therefore, the act of slavery could not have been allowed in the first place in the US, especially after the country attained its independence. Treating slaves as property to address state and national interests was unfair and inhuman. Every human being deserves dignity and respect regardless of his or her socio-economic background or political affiliation. The constitution should have protected the rights and freedom of all Americans, including slaves and immigrants who were living in the country.
References
Digital History. (2013). The Three-fifths Compromise . Retrieved from http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?psid=163&smtID=3
Scott, J. (2013, February 18). Compromised Position. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/02/18/emory-president-sets-uproar- statements-three-fifths-compromise-and-then-apologizes
Smith, G. H. (2017). Debates on the Slave Trade during the Constitutional Convention . Retrieved from https://www.libertarianism.org/columns/debates-slave-trade-during-constitutional-convention
