Compromise on the Importation of Slaves

Definition

This was a compromise reached during the 1787 United States Constitutional Convention that allowed Congress to prohibit the importation of slaves after 1808, but did not address the issue of domestic slavery.

Analogy

Think of this like a family deciding to stop buying junk food from the grocery store in an effort to be healthier, but still allowing any existing junk food in the house to be eaten. The problem isn't fully solved, but it's a step towards addressing it.

Related terms

Three-Fifths Compromise: A compromise between Southern and Northern states where three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for representation purposes.

Constitutional Convention: The gathering that drafted the Constitution of the United States in 1787.

Slave Trade Act of 1794: An act prohibiting American ships from participating in African slave trade.