UNPAID LABOR and The Constitution of the United States of America

The Unpaid Labor System was in place in America for 169 years before the United States became a country.  All of the original thirteen British colonies (n/k/a American states) benefited from the Unpaid Labor System. In 1776, the Unpaid Labor System was the foundation of the new American nation. The Unpaid Labor System in the southern states was a very important part of the nation’s economy.  But the Northern states became less dependent on the Unpaid Labor System over time. In fact, the Northern states began to see it as a threat to paid labor.

The Unpaid Labor System was very large.  The System was very important.  The Southern colonies would not agree to become part of a new country unless the Unpaid Labor system was legalized in the United States Constitution.  The Constitution is the framework written by the United States founders to define how Americans should live together.

The following compromises protected the Unpaid Labor System and made it legal:
Compromise #1: Article I, Section 2 Gave power in the Congress to states based upon the number Unpaid Laborers in their state.

“Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.”

-Actual Language of Article 1, Section 2, U.S. Constitution

Compromise #2: Article I, Section 9 Allowed people to be brought from Africa and sold in the U.S. for 20 years after the Constitution was signed.

“The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.”

-Actual Language of Article I, Section 9, U.S. Constitution

Compromise #3: Article IV, Section 2 Gave people that owned Unpaid Laborers the right to get them back if they escaped to another state.

“No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.”

-Actual Language of Article IV, Section 2, U.S. Constitution