Slavery and the Constitution - Essay Example

Slavery and the constitution The acts of slavery plus servitude in America were evident in the 1700s when the was still the colony of Britain. It thrived mostly in the south where slaves worked in plantations. Slavery continued until when United States adjusted their constitution. Large sections of the captives were Africans and were held captive by the whites. There were little white slaves as it was compared to the Africans. Most Africans found their way in America due to the existence of trade.

They were conveyed through ships to the destinations. Slaves worked mainly in the regions where the soil was good and supported crops like coffee, cotton, sugar and other crops. Thomas Jefferson, a former president of the United States did not support slavery. He considered slavery as a breach of the laws of the nature (Beamount 4). Jefferson had taken actions that he thought would end servitude and slavery. One of his moves was the drafting of the law in Virginia in the 1700s. These laws forbid the transportation of African slaves.

He started plan for slower redemption of slaves by indicated that after certain period they would go free. However, regardless of his labors Jefferson found himself retaining slaves. He was not successful and died before implementing his decisions. President Lincoln was another person who advocated for the elimination of slavery. During the civil war, Lincoln issued a liberation proclamation. This order advocated for the release of many slaves that were subjected to the acts of slavery and servitude.

Other people such as the spiritual leaders were in opposition to slavery (Finkelman 18). They found that the act were against their sacred teachings. They thus made moves that helped to end slavery. Most people in the south, especially owners of plantations wanted the prolongation of slavery because they benefited from the labor that the slaves offered. Even the white southerners who did not own plantations felt that the abolition of slavery would have led to decline of their economy. The southerners had commenced to incorporate slavery and assumed that they had the right to own slaves.

Most southerners thought that slavery plus servitude should proceed. The criticisms of slavery by people who were against it led to a need of constitution amendment. Various leaders including President Lincoln had pressed for the changes of the constitution. Religious leaders also contributed by preaching the negatives of slavery. They advocated for immediate changes of the constitution to end the sufferings that slaves went through while they toiled in firms and plantations (Owensby 101). The abolitionist group was involved in making slavery illegal.

Due to efforts of this group, some slaves were converted into servants and were not oppressed or tortured. The act of servitude was abolished in most states. The abolishment was a gradual operation. The banning of global slave deal contributed much towards a successful ban of slavery. The amendments of the constitution proceeded to forbid slavery unless if a person was found guilty of breaching a state law. The section on the slavery plus involuntary servitude did not allow punishment. It only allowed the punishment for involvement in crime.

The section of the constitution managed to discontinue import of slaves. It allowed the military to participate in the eradication process. Although the constitution helped in the eradication of servitude and slavery, the article seemed to permit slavery for some years before it was completely over (Owensby 101).Work cited Finkelman, Paul. Slavery and the founders: race and liberty in the age of Jefferson. New York: M.E. Sharpe. 2001. Print Beamount, Gustave. Marie, or, Slavery in the United States: a novel of Jacksonian America.

New York: JHU Press. 1999. PrintOwensby, Jackson. The United States Constitution. New York: a-Argus books. 2010. Print Gebel, Oliver. Love Letters of the Civil War: A Confederate Example in Context. New York: Grin Verlag. 2007. Print