Thomas Jefferson once said, "Maintaining slavery was like holding a wolf by its ears. You didn't like it, but you didn't dare let it go." (Civil War) Slavery was apart of this nation's birth. It would be the deciding factor in the separation from North and South. The separation of the two would cause fear and hatred, which would eventually lead to war.
             Future president, Abraham Lincoln said it best, "As a nation we began by declaring that all men are created equal, we now practically read it: all men are created equal, except Negroes." (Civil War) Slavery was introduced to the lands of North America from the very beginning of English, later American, colonization. Throughout the American Revolution, this idea that all men are created equal was the driving force for change, blood was spilled, but after years of warfare, it was all over; a new nation had been born. Finally, there was a chance to start over, but with this idea of equality came hesitance and there was no change. The question of morality was surpassed by greed and profitability.
             At the Constitutional Convention, the topic of the Black slave was discussed and after much deliberation, it was proposed that the slave would be treated as three-fifths of that of a White for the purposes of representation and taxation. The only reason why the slave was worth that much was because the Government needed the tax money. If slaves didn't count at all, there wouldn't be two bits to collect in his/her name. Also, at the Convention, the slave trade itself was discussed, but no compromise could be made. In other words, the institution of slavery was protected in the Constitution, the very fabric of this nation. Something that was fought so hard for (equality) was hypocritically passed aside and left alone for the next generation to deal with.
             Slavery never was commonly practiced in the North. As being a "free" territory, the Nor...