by the time of the american revolution (1775–1783), slaves had been institutionalized as a racial caste. the caste associated with african ancestry. when the united states constitution was ratified in 1789, a small number of free people of color were able to vote. this was because they were men who owned property. during and shortly after the revolutionary war, abolitionist laws were passed in most northern states, and there was a movement created to end slavery. slave states tried to extend slavery into new western territories. they wanted to do this to keep their share of political power in the country. southern leaders also wanted to annex cuba as a slave territory. the united states became split over the issue of slavery. it was split into slave and free states. the mason–dixon line divided the country. the line divided (free) pennsylvania from (slave) maryland.