Constitution sat with doors closed, and that this was done purposely, that nothing but the result of their labours should be seen, and that that result should be judged of by the people free from any of the bias shown in the debates. It should also be borne in mind, and the fact is still more important, that the debates in the convention that framed the Constitution, and by means of which a pro-slavery interpretation is now attempted to be forced upon that instrument, were not published till more than a quarter of a century after the presentation and the adoption of the Constitution… of life, in the last resort, is to get out of the Union. I am, therefore, for drawing the [Slavery’s] hope bond of the Union more completely under the power of the Free States. What they most dread, that I most desire. I have much confidence in the instincts of the slaveholders. They see that the Constitution will afford slavery no protection when it shall cease to be administered by slaveholders. They see, moreover, that if there is once a will in the people of America to abolish slavery, this is no word, no syllable in the Constitution to forbid that result. They see that the Constitution has not saved slavery in Rhode Island, in Connecticut, in New York, or Pennsylvania… Historical Debate: Is the US Constitution a Pro-Slavery or Anti-Slavery document? Name: _________________________________ Pd: ________ Date: ___________________ William Lloyd Garrison Debrief Questions “The Great Crisis!” Respond to each of the following questions with a short paragraph, citing at least one quotation from the text. To Garrison, the Constitution is essentially a compact (or agreement) between which two groups? He then asserts that the Constitution is fundamentally invalid; what is his reasoning? What document does he consider superior to the Constitution? What is his reasoning? What is purpose in the long, final paragraph? Who is he mocking? How and why does he Garrison’s mock them?
Constitution sat with doors closed, and that this was done purposely, that nothing but the result of their labours should be seen, and that that result should be judged of by the people free from any of the bias shown in the debates. It should also be borne in mind, and the fact is still more important, that the debates in the convention that framed the Constitution, and by means of which a pro-slavery interpretation is now attempted to be forced upon that instrument, were not published till more than a quarter of a century after the presentation and the adoption of the Constitution… [Slavery’s] hope of life, in the last resort, is to get out of the Union. I am, therefore, for drawing the bond of the Union more completely under the power of the Free States. What they most dread, that I most desire. I have much confidence in the instincts of the slaveholders. They see that the Constitution will afford slavery no protection when it shall cease to be administered by slaveholders. They see, moreover, that if there is once a will in the people of America to abolish slavery, this is no word, no syllable in the Constitution to forbid that result. They see that the Constitution has not saved slavery in Rhode Island, in Connecticut, in New York, or Pennsylvania… Historical Debate: Is the US Constitution a Pro-Slavery or Anti-Slavery document? Name: _________________________________ Pd: ________ Date: ___________________ William Lloyd Garrison “The Great Crisis!” Debrief Questions Respond to each of the following questions with a short paragraph, citing at least one quotation from the text. To Garrison, the Constitution is essentially a compact (or agreement) between which two groups? He then asserts that the Constitution is fundamentally invalid; what is his reasoning? What document does he consider superior to the Constitution? What is his reasoning? What is Garrison’s purpose in the long, final paragraph? Who is he mocking? How and why does he mock them?
full_winter_packet.docx