Final answer:
Slavery was allowed to continue under the US Constitution due to the framers' concerns about economic collapse and the need to preserve the Union. The Constitution did not explicitly endorse slavery but employed vague language and compromises. Southern states relied on slave labor for their economy, and abolishing slavery would have potentially triggered secession.
Step-by-step explanation:
Slavery was allowed to continue under the US Constitution primarily because the framers feared the collapse of the United States without it. The southern states heavily relied on slave labor for their agrarian economy, and abolishing slavery could have caused economic turmoil. Additionally, the framers wanted to preserve the unity of the newly formed nation, and removing slavery would have likely resulted in the secession of southern states.
However, it is important to note that the US Constitution itself did not explicitly allow or endorse slavery. The framers employed vague language and compromises to avoid addressing the subject directly, which effectively left the decision on slavery to the individual states.
Therefore, while it is true that the Constitution did not outlaw slavery, it is inaccurate to say that all of the framers supported slavery. In fact, some, like Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin, were opposed to it. Nonetheless, the southern states' refusal to abolish slavery and the need to preserve the Union played a significant role in allowing slavery to continue.
Learn more about Slavery in the US Constitution