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Constitution 101 Curriculum
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Slavery was embedded into America’s fabric by the time of the ratification of the Constitution. How did this affect how long slavery lasted in America and how it ended? The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments ended slavery in America and tried to rebuild our nation on a stronger constitutional foundation. Do you think that these amendments changed the Constitution so much that it was like a re-birth—a “Second Founding”—of our nation?
| Slavery in America with Gloria J. Browne-Marshall Advanced Session |
Slavery in America Advanced Session |
Slavery in America |
Module 12: Slavery in America: From the Founding to America’s Second Founding
Citizenship, Freedom, Equality, and the Powers of Congress
Dig deeper into the amendments and related documents to see how the language changed over time.
In this Friday session, author Clint Smith joins Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a discussion on slavery in America.
U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil M. Gorsuch discusses how the Dred Scott decision was an example of judicial overreach.
In this clip from FOURTEEN, the performance opens with the words of the Declaration of Independence, after which a performer reads an open letter from Douglass to his former slaveholder.
In this clip from FOURTEEN, a performer embodying President Lincoln reads an excerpt of the Emancipation Proclamation. Another performer reads an 1864 letter written by Annie Davis, an enslaved woman who, upon hearing of the proclamation, seeks President Lincoln’s guidance on if she can freely travel to visit her family.
In this clip from FOURTEEN performers share sections of the Black Codes from the Reconstruction era and the response of African Americans to the rise of these laws.
Was the original Constitution pro-slavery? Historian Sean Wilentz rethinks this question in conversation with Jeffrey Rosen.
Jeffrey Rosen leads a discussion about the life and constitutional legacy of legendary abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
Why do we celebrate Juneteenth? Martha Jones and Lucas Morel explain and shed light on the history of emancipation and equality in America.
The National Constitution Center’s Jeffrey Rosen is joined by “patriotic philanthropist” and Carlyle Group founder David Rubenstein to discuss the history and legacy of the 13th Amendment.
Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery on September 3, 1838, aided by a disguise and job skills he had learned while forced to work in Baltimore's shipyards.
On December 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment was ratified after the state of Georgia approved the amendment as it was proposed to the states by Congress. That act officially ended the practice of slavery in the United States.
Explore our new 15-unit core curriculum with educational videos, primary texts, and more.
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Discover primary texts and historical documents that span American history and have shaped the American constitutional tradition.
