Gordon Wood is the Dean of early American historians retired from Brown University. This short book summarizes his views on what he calls "Constitutionalism," which is to say, discussion of Constitutional issues the heyday of which is the late 1700's and early 1800's.
No doubt Wood does not believe that the War was about protecting slavery. The Somerset decision was barely noticed in the colonies.
Wood writes about a period—-late 18th and early 19th century—-which was the most fruitful time in our history in which constitutional issues were discussed led by the approval of the new Constitution.
The author says that when Madison said the biggest division at the convention was not the small states vs. the large states but it was between the slave states and the non-slave states that this observation was a “tactical faint” to get the discussion away from small vs. large states. He provides no footnote for this contention. I am dubious. P. 100
The revolution led to antislavery activity. This is news to me. P. 100
The revolution heightened awareness of slavery leading to it not being taken for granted without guilt. The possibility of ending slavery came about during the revolutionary period. It didn’t last of course. P. 102
The revolution led to the end of white indentured servitude. P. 106
The decline in servitude made black slavery more conspicuous. Owning slaves was put on the defensive. P. 107
The author says that little attention was paid to the Somerset decision. P. 108
Nearly everywhere a mounting sense during this time that slavery was on its way out. All an illusion. Slavery was moving to its greatest expansion. P. 110
Twenty thousand slaves joined the British side, a great liberation. P. 111
The tragically mistaken belief was that slavery was dying which could justified the Constitution’s support of slavery as in the infamous 3/5 clause. Compromising with slavery was better than dismembering the Union. P. 120
Despite the protections for slavery in the Constitution the document does not say that slaves are property and the word slave is not used but circumlocutions are used. P. 121
Wood seems to glory in detailing how the war led to Northern states outlawing slavery but even though the convention may have thought slavery was on its way they were tragically wrong.
The chief factor leading to Philadelphia according to Wood was an excess of democracy especially paper money. Rhode Island is the prime example. Wood seems to say the RI prospered with paper money with banks issuing the paper. Jefferson and Madison did not understand banks.
Rhode Island, which was the only state not to attend the Constitutional Convention, was a colony of oddballs. RI has its unique style of democracy. James Madison despised the state. In the Epilogue. For elitists like Madison Rhode Island was a symbol for all that was wrong in the country in the 1780’s with its excess issue of paper money.
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