Forgotten Voices

This passage highlights how the debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists left out enslaved people, Indigenous peoples, and other marginalized groups. While leaders argued over state vs. federal power, enslaved people still had no rights and remained in bondage. Some Federalists accepted slavery, while some Anti-Federalists opposed it, but neither side prioritized abolition. Indigenous peoples faced broken treaties and loss of land despite promises from both groups. Over time, laws and amendments addressed some of these injustices, but the passage shows that early debates excluded many voices.

Passages like this strengthen students’ ability to think critically about who is represented in history and who is left out. Vocabulary such as “enslaved,” “Indigenous,” and “abolition” deepens word knowledge. Comprehension improves as students connect the main constitutional debate with its impact on marginalized groups. This type of reading also develops empathy and perspective-taking, encouraging deeper analysis. Finally, exposure to complex sentences and multiple viewpoints strengthens grammar and reading fluency.