Final answer:
The U.S. Constitution originally included several clauses that protected slavery without using the word "slavery" itself. Terms were used to skirt around the term while setting up the legal framework that initially preserved slavery. The debate over these terms and the structure of the document formed part of early sectional conflicts leading up to the Civil War.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to the United States Constitution which was deliberately drafted without the word "slavery" to preserve the status quo regarding slavery during the 18th century. The framers used phrases like "persons held in service" to allude to slaves, reflecting the ambivalence and the controversies surrounding slavery at that time. Notably, in the original Constitution, the three-fifths clause was included to determine representation based on the slave population without directly mentioning the term "slave." Over time, antislavery activists would argue that the Constitution opened the door to eventually legislate the end of slavery and the slave trade, especially after the expiration of compromises like Section 9 Clause 1, which barred Congress from outlawing the slave trade before 1808. Importantly, subsequent amendments like the 13th and 14th amendments considerably altered the Constitution by abolishing slavery and extending rights to former slaves.