Why is slavery not eliminated from the Constitution?

Why did the Constitution allow slavery to continue, if the Declaration of Independence claimed that "all men are created equal"?

On November 19th, 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address.  He delivers a speech that begins with:

Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. 

Score means 20.  What date does Lincoln claim our country was born?  What document was written during this year?

Lincoln points out that the birth of the country is not the Treaty of Paris of 1783, with the end of the Revolutionary War.  The idea this country was founded on, was ignored during the writing and adoption of the Constitution in 1791.  They ignored the issue in favor of resolving other problems. The birth of the United States is the Declaration of Independence on 1776.

At the end he states:

that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.

In 1863, President Lincoln supports the idea that country should return to its ideological birth and deliver the promise of equality.  To form government to protect people, not the leaders of government.

Read the following statements by the Founding Fathers and present day historians to surmise why the Constitutional Convention did not eliminate slavery in the United States.

Gettysburg Address Anniversary

Visit this link to find Where is Lincoln?

 Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. 

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. 

It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.

Articles of the Confederation and Shays' Rebellion

Articles of Confederation

Achievements

Land Ordinance of 1785

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

What are two others?
See the slides.

Weaknesses

What are five failures of the Articles of Confederation?

Shays' Rebellion

The common story about Shays’ rebellion is that the Founding Fathers realized that the Articles of Confederation were too weak and thought that the central government needed more power to control popular uprisings.

Did all Americans think the Articles of Confederation were too weak? How did Americans react to Shays’ Rebellion?


Read Thomas Jefferson on Shays' Rebellion

What is the significance of the image below as it pertains to Jefferson's letter?

American Revolution

Monday

Chapter 7 Section 1 Workbook 25

Why did colonist belong to either the Loyalist or the Patriots?

What was the significance of the Battles of New York, Trenton, and Saratoga?

Tuesday

Chapter 7 Section 2 Workbook 26

What people were influential in American victories during the Revolutionary War?  What qualities did they share?

Wednesday

By 1775, the movement towards independence had gained
traction. Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense,” which put forth the arguments
for independence, was published in January 1776 and sold as many as
120,000 copies in the first three months, 500,000 in the first year, and went
through twenty-five editions in the first year alone.  The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th and used as a propaganda toward colonist.  Massachusetts was NOT Loyalist territory. Many consider it to be the heart of the Revolution.
What were reasons that Patriots used to support Independence?  Reasons to risk your life for?

However, as many as 15-20% of colonists remained loyal to the English King
and opposed to independence.  Loyalists were often wealthier people, merchants, or people active in the
Anglican Church. There were also concentrations of Loyalists in certain
areas, such as New York and Long Island.
Why might some colonists have remained loyal to England?

Read two sources and determine reasons for people to remain loyal to England.

Thursday

Discussion:
• Why did some colonists oppose independence?
• Do their arguments seem reasonable?
• What might Patriots have said in response to these arguments?
• Which side do you think was more reasonable?

Create a T chart on the back, labeled as Patriots and Loyalists.  What arguments would the Patriots use to support Independence?  What arguments would the Loyalists use to oppose Independence?

Friday

Debate both sides of the issue.

Chapt 7 Section 4 and Wb 28