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Why Was Slavery Important To The Constitution

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Why Was Slavery Important To The Constitution
In 1778 the US Constitution failed to abolish slavery, this not only guaranteed future conflict over slavery but also highlighted the importance slavery for the unity of America. Many states entering the Union at the end of the war were slave states therefore, it was necessary to reflect the interests of these states in the constitution. Historian Eric Foner goes on to note that, "the words "slaves" and "slavery" did not appear in the Constitution" as they would "contaminate" the notion of American freedom, this shows the intricacy of the matter of slavery right from independence. The constitution, however, encouraged the of return fugitive slaves to their owners, in order to manage the large population of fugitives. It also proposed that "three-fifths
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