Discuss the compromises that involved the issue of slavery and the extent to which the Constitution supported or disapproved of slavery.

Several perspectives exist on the framing and ratification of the U.S. Constitution. One perspective is expressed by Donald Nieman's essay Slavery and the Constitution; it reflects on the issue of slavery and how economic interests of the Southern states and ideological interests of the North resulted in compromise for both sides. Although antislavery proponents existed on both sides, antislavery advocates were able to advance their cause most effectively in the North. The importance of …

…group, however, disenfranchisement, discrimination, destruction, and even death were not solely experienced by them. Equality and fairness, as defined today, was primarily reserved for rich white men. The constitutional framers were perhaps imbued with more foresight than given credit for, seeing that slavery was an institution without a future, that strife over the issue would likely occur in the near future, and what they needed was time to build strength in anticipation of that strife.