At the 1787 convention in Philadelphia, [FN1] compromises “had” to be made or else the 13 States might split, as James Madison said, “between states ‘having or not having slaves.” [FN2] The Framers “believed that concessions on slavery were” necessary for 1/9

“support of southern delegates” and if the slave trade was restricted, Georgia & S. Carolina would refuse to join. [FN3] Only euphemisms, not the word “slave,” appear in the Constitution. Madison refers to ‘the barbarism of modern policy” in regard to a ban until 1808 2/9

of laws prohibiting “importation of slaves.” [FN4] Madison was a slaveholder. [FN5] Only five of the 55 delegates did not own slaves, [FN6] but chattel slavery was doomed. Had compromises on slavery not occurred, the South might have gone on its own. 3/9

One of the European powers might have tried to conquer it. The USA might not have gained prominence as a superpower in the 20th Century. Then again, it’s unlikely that a South too weak to beat the Union 1861-1865 would have fared better decades earlier wfewer resources. 4/9

On a different note, I encourage everyone to watch Brad Sowinski’s podcast “Rinse,” Sundays at 7:30 pm EDT/6:30 Central on Facebook. I’ll be a contributor tonight & weeks to come. 5/9

Footnotes:
FN1. On 2/21/1787, by resolution of Congress, the states were to send delegates “for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation” to Philadelphia to meet on ‘the second Monday of May.” 1 Elliott’s Debates pp. 119-20. 6/9

FN2. David O Stewart, “The Summer of 1787,” pp. 103-04.
FN3. Mintz, Steven, “Historical Context: The Constitution and Slavery,” The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History,” accessed 1/10/25. 7/9

FN4. The Federalist No 42, (James Madison) citing to Const. Art. I, sec 9; “The Migration or Importation of such Persons ... shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year [1808].”8/9

FN5. “All eleven delegates from Virginia and South Carolina owned slaves.” Stewart, p. 68.
FN6. Rufus King (MA), Caleb Strong (MA), Nicholas Gilman (NH), Alexander Hamilton (NY) and Benjamin Franklin (PA) were not slaveholders. 9/9