Slavery, Union, and the Constitutional Order, I

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The Old Senate chamber, home of the Webster-Hayne debate

Today's reading features documents focusing on the emergence of the Senate as a forum for constitutional debate; class next time will talk about slavery, race, imperialism, and the Constitution.

READINGS:

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Hall, Major Problems, chapter 9.

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Hayne-Webster debate: outline

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Daniel Webster's final rebuttal to Hayne, from the Congressional Globe (the speech runs to page 80)

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tour the America of the day

STUDY QUESTIONS

1.) What do you see as the most important change in the consideration of federal vs. state rights between the ratification of the Constitution and the Webster/Hayne debate?

2.) Was slavery the only issue behind the constitutional debate between Webster and Hayne?

3.) What would an America structured along Hayne's principles have looked like? Along Webster's principles?