You Will Recall That in Chapter 16, the South and the Slavery

question 44

Essay

You will recall that in Chapter 16, The South and the Slavery Controversy, 1793-1860, abolitionists such as William Lloyd Garrison, Wendell Phillips, Sojourner Truth, and Frederick Douglass argued that a higher law than the Constitution demanded the immediate end of slavery across America, which they termed an "evil institution." Do you believe that there is a higher law than the Constitution? If so, would the expansion or the maintained legal status of slavery qualify as prompting antislavery statesman to invoke a higher law than the Constitution during this era of American history? Why did some prominent statesmen of that era such as John Calhoun, Henry Clay, and Daniel Webster find this concept of a higher law than the Constitution dangerous to republican government? Do you share their republican and constitutional fears about politicians adhering to a "higher law" over vexing political issues such as slavery?

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Definitions:

Health Care Costs

The expenses associated with medical treatment, including the costs of hospitalization, medications, preventive care, and medical devices.

Per Capita GDP

Gross Domestic Product per person, a measure comparing the economic output of a country relative to its population size.

Personal Disposable Income

Personal disposable income is the amount of money that households have available for spending and saving after income taxes have been accounted for.

Savings

Money set aside for future use rather than spent immediately, often in a bank or other financial institution.