The Constitution Reader
VI. The Founders on Slavery, the Rise of the Positive Good School, and the Roots of the Secession Crisis
Thomas Jefferson, Draft of the Declaration of Independence (excerpt) (PDF) (DOC)
Northwest Ordinance (excerpt) (PDF) (DOC)
Washington, Adams, Franklin, Hamilton, and Madison on Slavery (excerpts) (PDF) (DOC)
Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia, "Manners" (excerpt) (PDF) (DOC)
Letter from Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, March 14, 1779 (excerpt) (PDF) (DOC)
Federalist 54 (excerpt) (PDF) (DOC)
Letter from John Jay to the English Society for Promoting the Manumission of Slaves, June 1788 (PDF) (DOC)
Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Henri Gregoire, February 25, 1809 (PDF) (DOC)
John C. Calhoun, "Slavery is a Positive Good" (PDF) (DOC)
John C. Calhoun, Speech on the Oregon Bill (excerpt) (PDF) (DOC)
Alexander Stephens, "Cornerstone Speech" (PDF) (DOC)
Letter from Thomas Jefferson to John Holmes, April 22, 1820 (PDF) (DOC)
Missouri Compromise (excerpt) (PDF) (DOC)
Daniel Webster, Senate Speech on the Compromise of 1850 (excerpt) (PDF) (DOC)
