THE CONSTITUTION AND BILL OF RIGHTS 1787

In an effort to establish a new country and government the founding fathers decided they had to be practical and forgo some of the rights declared before in the Declaration of Independence. Not all men in the new country would be "created equal." Slavery had existed in the colonies since it began and it would not be easy for the south in particular, to let go of slaves since they formed such an important base of the economy. Nor were many people, southerner or northener, ready to accept African slaves as equals or other peoples such as Indians, many of whom were considered hostiles.

In time due to the influence of many ideas and events, these attitudes began to change either gradually and voluntary or by force.