Summary: Although the Declaration of Independence stated, "All men are created equal," Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers agreed to include slavery in the United States Constitution. What factors led to this decision? In this lesson, students consider the positions of delegates to the Constitutional Convention along with historians' interpretations to understand this apparent contradiction.
Overarching Questions:
- CIVICS: Have the concepts of liberty, justice and/or equality changed during the time period? If so, how and what has been the impact?
- CIVICS: How well does the government balance individual rights and the common good, including the need to maintain order, safety and a healthy environment, during this time period?
NJ Student Learning Standards for Social Studies:
- 6.1.12.HistoryCC.2.b: Assess the importance of the intellectual origins of the Foundational Documents and assess their importance on the spread of democracy around the world (i.e., Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and Bill of Rights)
- 6.1.12.HistoryUP.2.c: Explain why American ideals put forth in the Constitution have been denied to different groups of people throughout time (i.e., due process, rule of law and individual rights)
Link to Lesson: Slavery in the Constitution | Digital Inquiry Group