1987 DBQ

1987 DBQ The misinterpretation and different views of what was stated in the Constitution contributed to the sectional discord, tension and failure of the Union. The Constitution was written almost a century before all these problems occurred, they could not have foreseen such issues back then. Although the Constitution was written very well for that time period, it does unfortunately contribute to the failing of the Union. The Constitution was written so it could be interpreted differently by whoever was reading it. Although sometimes people find ways to twist what was stated in the Constitution to make it benefit their situation. Documents B, E, and I all show examples of different interpretations of the Constitution. They explain how slavery was never actually stated or used in the Constitution but has been interpreted in many ways. Some believe it is based on states and others say it is in the Constitution that it is legal. Some believe that our Constitution contradicts itself. It is supposed to be to protect the rights and liberties of everyone, but it takes all rights away and causes fear in African Americans. While others say that slaves are not included in the Constitution and that they do not even have any rights. Some of these interpretations could be solved if certain issues were covered in the Constitution itself. Due to how long ago the Constitution was written there are many issues and problems that are not stated in it or do not pertain to the time period. This causes tension and sectional discord among the states and eventually led to the separation of the Union. Document D shows how the Fugitive Slave Law is immoral and wrong. “…as soon as the Constitution ordains an immoral law, it ordains disunion,” meaning that if there is a law that is wrong in the Constitution it goes straight to disunion instead of amending the law. In Document G the only way to keep the Union together would have been to amend the Constitution because it didn’t include