... to the whole world and the virulence of our own disease will be unabated." In the face of such criticisms, John Randolph of Virginia complained that "these Yankees have almost reconciled me to negro slavery." Senator William Smith of South Carolina brought the toughest proslavery speech of the whole Missouri debate, in retort to Northerners who he blamed of ... ; he submitted, "or so kindly treated by their masters, and their situations so improved," that ill-disposed Yankees "cannot excite one among twenty to insurrection." Smith's complete speech was a pure compliment to the merits of s...

• Word Count: 2503
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... , shippers, bankers, speculators, and private and public security holders. No one was better prepared to defend the Constitution than New Yorker, and federalist, Alexander Hamilton. In 1787 he worked with John Jay and James Madison to write series of 85 essays in support of the Constitution. Known as "The Federalist Papers," these remarkable essays proved critical in achieving ratification of the ... advanced the idea that a state did not have to follow a federal law and could, in effect, "nullify" the law. The idea that "states' rights" superseded federal law was promoted by John C. Cal...

• Word Count: 3046
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... liberated by voluntary act of their former owners or by law, as well as all free colored persons and their descendants, shall have all the rights of native Cherokees." John Velie, an attorney for the Freedmen, stated, "For more than 140 years, descendants of the freedmen have voted, held positions in national councils, led courses in traditional art, participated ... descendants of the Cherokee Freedmen were wrongly and unconstitutionally kept from enrolling as citizens and were allowed to enroll in the Cherokee Nation once again (Burton). Chad "Corntassel" Smith, then-Principal Chief o...

• Word Count: 2752
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate