A Slaveholders' Union : Slavery, Politics, and the Constitution in the Early American Republic

After its early introduction into theEnglish colonies in North America, slavery in the United States lasted as a legal institution until the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. But increasingly during the contested politics of the early republic, abolitionists cried out that the Constitution itself was a slaveowners’ document, produced to protect and further their rights. __A Slaveholders’ Union__ furthers this unsettling claim by demonstrating once and for all that slavery was indeed an essential part of the foundation of the nascent republic. In this powerful book, George William Van Cleve demonstrates that the Constitution was pro-slavery in its politics, its economics, and its law. He convincingly shows that the Constitutional provisions protecting slavery were much more than mere “political” compromises—they were integral to the principles of the new nation. By the late 1780s, a majority of Americans wanted to create a strong federal republic that would be capable of expanding into a continental empire. In order for America to become an empire on such a scale, Van Cleve argues, the Southern states had to be willing partners in the endeavor, and the cost of their allegiance was the deliberate long-term protection of slavery by America’s leaders through the nation’s early expansion. Reconsidering the role played by the gradual abolition of slavery in the North, Van Cleve also shows that abolition there was much less progressive in its origins—and had much less influence on slavery’s expansion—than previously thought. Deftly interweaving historical and political analyses, __A Slaveholders’ Union__ will likely become the definitive explanation of slavery’s persistence and growth—and of its influence on American constitutional development—from the Revolutionary War through the Missouri Compromise of 1821.

After its early introduction into the English colonies in North America, slavery in the United States lasted as a legal institution until the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1865.  But increasingly during the contested politics of the early republic, abolitionists cried out that the Constitution itself was a slaveowners’ document, produced to protect and further their rights. A Slaveholders’ Union furthers this unsettling claim by demonstrating once and for all that slavery was indeed an essential part of the foundation of the nascent republic.

In this powerful book, George William Van Cleve demonstrates that the Constitution was pro-slavery in its politics, its economics, and its law. He convincingly shows that the Constitutional provisions protecting slavery were much more than mere “political” compromises—they were integral to the principles of the new nation. By the late 1780s, a majority of Americans wanted to create a strong federal republic that would be capable of expanding into a continental empire. In order for America to become an empire on such a scale, Van Cleve argues, the Southern states had to be willing partners in the endeavor, and the cost of their allegiance was the deliberate long-term protection of slavery by America’s leaders through the nation’s early expansion. Reconsidering the role played by the gradual abolition of slavery in the North, Van Cleve also shows that abolition there was much less progressive in its origins—and had much less influence on slavery’s expansion—than previously thought.

Deftly interweaving historical and political analyses, A Slaveholders’ Union will likely become the definitive explanation of slavery’s persistence and growth—and of its influence on American constitutional development—from the Revolutionary War through the Missouri Compromise of 1821.

From the University of Chicago Press: "After its early introduction into the English colonies in North America, slavery in the United States lasted as a legal institution until the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. But increasingly during the contested politics of the early republic, abolitionists cried out that the Constitution itself was a slaveowners’ document, produced to protect and further their rights. A Slaveholders’ Union furthers this unsettling claim by demonstrating once and for all that slavery was indeed an essential part of the foundation of the nascent republic. In this powerful book, George William Van Cleve demonstrates that the Constitution was pro-slavery in its politics, its economics, and its law. He convincingly shows that the Constitutional provisions protecting slavery were much more than mere “political” compromises—they were integral to the principles of the new nation. By the late 1780s, a majority of Americans wanted to create a strong federal republic that would be capable of expanding into a continental empire. In order for America to become an empire on such a scale, Van Cleve argues, the Southern states had to be willing partners in the endeavor, and the cost of their allegiance was the deliberate long-term protection of slavery by America’s leaders through the nation’s early expansion. Reconsidering the role played by the gradual abolition of slavery in the North, Van Cleve also shows that abolition there was much less progressive in its origins—and had much less influence on slavery’s expansion—than previously thought. Deftly interweaving historical and political analyses, A Slaveholders’ Union will likely become the definitive explanation of slavery’s persistence and growth—and of its influence on American constitutional development—from the Revolutionary War through the Missouri Compromise of 1821." Contents ......Page 8 List of Illustrations ......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 Part One: Slavery in the American Revolution ......Page 26 1. From Empire to Confederation......Page 28 2. Abolition, Slavery Reform, and the Climate of Opinion......Page 70 Part Two: The Making of the Slaveholders' Constitution ......Page 112 3. Property and Republican Representation......Page 114 4. Sectional Bargaining and Moral Union......Page 154 Part Three: Slavery in the New Nation ......Page 196 5. From Constitution to Republican Empire......Page 198 6. The Missouri Compact and the Rule of Law......Page 236 Conclusion: Slavery and the Dismal Fate of Madisonian Politics......Page 278 Acknowledgments ......Page 288 Appendix A: Notes on the Law of Slavery and Bound Labor......Page 292 Appendix B: Calculating Nonslaveholder Voting Strength......Page 294 Appendix C: Calculations in Support of Table 4.1......Page 296 Appendix D: House of Representatives Action on the Quaker Memorials......Page 300 Abbreviations ......Page 304 Notes ......Page 306 Bibliography ......Page 368 Index ......Page 390 University Of Chicago Press Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Introduction 12 Part One: Slavery in the American Revolution 26 1. From Empire to Confederation 28 2. Abolition, Slavery Reform, and the Climate of Opinion 70 Part Two: The Making of the Slaveholders' Constitution 112 3. Property and Republican Representation 114 4. Sectional Bargaining and Moral Union 154 Part Three: Slavery in the New Nation 196 5. From Constitution to Republican Empire 198 6. The Missouri Compact and the Rule of Law 236 Conclusion: Slavery and the Dismal Fate of Madisonian Politics 278 Acknowledgments 288 Appendix A: Notes on the Law of Slavery and Bound Labor 292 Appendix B: Calculating Nonslaveholder Voting Strength 294 Appendix C: Calculations in Support of Table 4.1 296 Appendix D: House of Representatives Action on the Quaker Memorials 300 Abbreviations 304 Notes 306 Bibliography 368 Index 390 0226846687,9780226846682 Beginning With Its Introduction To The First English Colonies In North America, Slavery In The United States Lasted As A Legal Institution Until The Passage Of The Thirteenth Amendment To The Constitution In 1865. The Author Demonstrates That The Constitution Was Pro-slavery In Its Politics, Its Economics, And Its Law. Slavery In The American Revolution. From Empire To Confederation -- Abolition, Slavery Reform, And The Climate Of Opinion -- The Making Of The Slaveholders' Constitution. Property And Republican Representation -- Sectional Bargaining And Moral Union -- Slavery In The New Nation. From Constitution To Republican Empire -- The Missouri Compact And The Rule Of Law -- Conclusion : Slavery And The Dismal Fate Of Madisonian Politics. George William Van Cleve. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Part 1: Slavery in the American Revolution From empire to confederation Abolition, slavery reform, and the climate of opinion Part 2: The Making of the Slaveholders' Constitution Property and Republican representation Sectional bargaining and the moral union Part 3: Slavery in the New Nation From constitution to Republican empire The Missouri Compact and the rule of law Conclusion: Slavery and the dismal fate of Madisonian politics After its early introduction into the English colonies in North America, slavery in the United States lasted as a legal institution until the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865. This book demonstrates that slavery was indeed an essential part of the foundation of the nascent republic.