The Convention Debate on Slavery

8/13/2019 The Convention Debate on Slavery

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The Convention Debate on Slavery

Background:

During the beginning of the Revolution, there had already begun a movement against

Slavery. The Continental Congress called for abolishment of slave trade in 1774. In 1775, theQuakers formed first anti-slavery society in the world. Some Northern states decided to abolishslavery all together or allow for gradual emancipation in their State Constitutions. Despite being

free, they often were still barred from owning property (so they could not vote). Laws were still

harsh and discriminatory whether you were a slave or emancipated. No States south of

Pennsylvania did anything about slavery except preserve it and continue it.

The Articles of Confederation allowed the States individual sovereignty allowing theSouthern States to make their own decisions regarding Slavery. There was no federal governing

power that could enforce an abolishment of the slave trade or slavery.

Fast-forward to the Constitutional Convention. The North was largely a manufacturing

and trading hub in the urban areas such as Boston and New York City. In the rural areas, many

engaged in farming. The population was a majority white and had a small slave population andeven smaller free black population. In the South, the opposite was true. They had a large slave

population. While they also had fairly large centers of commerce like Charleston, most of the

economy was centered on plantation agricultural, which required lots of land and slaves.

For the North, slaves were not essential to the economy or really to the society. It was notuncommon for a member of the elite to own a slave or two however. But the slaves were not an

economic necessity to the North. They were more of a luxury and symbol of status to some. To

the South, slavery was absolutely necessary to keep the plantation system working. It was aneconomic necessity to them. It also was part of society. Rich plantation owners got rich from

having as many slaves and as much land as they could get. The richer they were the more slavesthey had and the more slaves working around their house they could afford.

When determining the structure of the Constitution, the Southern delegation realized the

potential of northern domination of the government if representation in the House ofRepresentatives and number of electoral votes was based on the free population. The North

easily had more free people and so would have much more power in the House and in

determining a President. The Southern delegation realized this could threaten the slave systemand/or the slave trade. For the North, the slave system was not a necessity so what would

guarantee that the North would not use its power to abolish slavery at the expense of the South?

Therefore, the South sought certain protections of slavery in the Constitution, the biggest being

the 3/5th

Compromise.

Assignment:

The class has been divided into two teams, the Northern Delegation and the SouthernDelegation to the Constitutional Convention. The Northern team is to represent the interests of

the North and the South the interests of the South. The South is going to propose the 3/5th

compromise to the Constitutional Convention. The goal of the debate is to win the vote which


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will determine whether the 3/5th

compromise is adopted in the Constitution or not. The goal of

the North is to prevent this from happening and the goal of the South is to get it adopted.

The Debate:

The Northern delegation will sit in a row on the left hand side of the moderator

and face the middle of the room towards the Southern delegation who will be in a row to myright facing the middle of the room also.

5 minute opening statement: Southern Delegation

3 students must make up to 2 minute long statements

5 minute opening statement: Northern Delegation

3 students must make up to 2 minute long statements

4 minute Rebuttal: Southern Delegation

Any number of students may make statements or ask questions of theNorthern delegation in response to Northern opening.

4 minute rebuttal: Northern Delegation

Any number of students may make statements or ask questions of

Southern Delegation in response to Southern rebuttal and opening.

3 minute rebuttal: Southern Delegation

Any number of students may make statements or ask questions of

Northern Delegation in response to Northern rebuttal

3 minute rebuttal: Northern Delegation

Any number of students may make statements or ask questions ofSouthern delegation in response to Southern rebuttal.

2 minute final rebuttal: Southern Delegation

Any number of students may make statements in response to Northern

rebuttal.

5 minute Summary: Northern Delegation

3 students must make up to 2 minute long summaries of their arguments

against 3/5thcompromise, CANNOT introduce new material!

5 minute Summary: Southern Delegation

3 students must make up to 2 minute long summaries of their arguments

for 3/5th

compromise, CANNOT introduce new material!

Judgement: Vote of the delegates to determine outcome of 3/5th

compromise.Moderator receives tie-breaking vote if necessary.


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Rules:

Students must refer to opposing team at all times as my opponent and

must be respectful of one another at all times.

No interruptions, distractions or talking while another person is speaking.

Once you are done talking yield yourtime to either another person on

your team to speak or to the moderator.

Absolutely no going over time allotment, once timer rings speaking is over

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The Convention Debate on Slavery