Enslaved People Had No Citizenship Rights — Reading Comprehension

During the early years of the United States, the idea of citizenship was a subject of major debate. While the Constitution promised certain rights to citizens, millions of people were excluded. By 1860, nearly four million enslaved people lived in the country, mostly in the South. These individuals were legally considered property and not citizens. This legal status shaped their lives in profound ways, affecting their families, communities, and futures.

The Constitution, ratified in 1787, did not provide rights for enslaved people. Instead, it included clauses that protected the institution of slavery. For example, the "Three-Fifths Compromise" counted each enslaved person as only a fraction of a person for purposes of representation in Congress. This compromise increased the political power of states with large enslaved populations. As a result, enslaved people had no influence on the government that controlled them.

For white citizens, the concept of citizenship meant having rights such as voting, owning property, and legal protection. Enslaved people, in contrast, could not vote, own property, or seek legal protection from unfair treatment. Laws known as "slave codes" further restricted their actions. These laws forbade enslaved people from learning to read, traveling without permission, or gathering in large groups. The goal was to prevent rebellion and maintain control.

Many enslaved people resisted these restrictions in quiet and courageous ways. They formed strong families and communities, preserved cultural traditions, and sometimes escaped to places where slavery was illegal. Their actions showed a deep desire for freedom, dignity, and equality. In a letter from an enslaved man named Fredrick Douglass, he wrote, "I have no rights which a white man is bound to respect." This statement highlights how the law denied enslaved people basic human rights.

Some Americans questioned the fairness of these laws and started to speak out against slavery. Abolitionists, both Black and white, argued that all people deserved equal rights. Their efforts led to growing debates in Congress and across the nation. However, many lawmakers and citizens in the South defended slavery as necessary for their economy and way of life. This conflict between the promise of liberty and the reality of slavery led to tension and division in the young nation.

Over time, enslaved people’s lack of citizenship rights became a major issue in American society. The contradiction between the ideals in the Declaration of Independence—"all men are created equal"—and the practice of slavery became more obvious. This contradiction would eventually lead to the Civil War, as Americans struggled to decide who should be included in the nation’s definition of citizenship and rights.

Interesting Fact: The Dred Scott decision in 1857 declared that enslaved people were not citizens and could never become citizens, reinforcing their lack of rights in the United States.

Who was considered property in early America?

What did the Three-Fifths Compromise do?

Who could vote and own land?

Why were slave codes created?

How did enslaved people resist restrictions?

What did abolitionists believe?

The Dred Scott decision gave enslaved people citizenship. True or false?

What does 'citizenship' mean in the passage?