He uses numerous quotes from source docs, and he does not imply his conclusions, he spells them out. He also writes in a relatively easy to read style that is academic but not too pedantic, and so it is easy for the student to follow and understand. In the context of the course, this book ties in quite well. It explains a part of American history that has often been questioned, but not answered so effectively. The author uses his research to debunk some of the well-known myths of this time, such as the fact that South Carolina and Georgia were the main foes of abolition, and they had enough power to create animosity towards abolition. In fact, the author writes, "In fact, Georgia and less so South Carolina, were precariously situation in 1787 and had far greater need of a strong federal government than the rest of the states had need of them" (Nash, 1990, p. 27). Throughout the book, the author uses evidence such as this to show that other histories may not always be accurate, and that historians and readers should sometimes question the well-held believes that have been passed down from generation to generation. In this, the author helps explain to history students why they should questions such well-held beliefs, study the source docs, and come to their own conclusions, and that supports this course's context and assigned readings quite well.

Nash's book shows that this piece of history was determined by numerous factors, including economic forces, individuals, geography, and even societal views. The economics of slavery and ending it are clear. Even the founding fathers recognized that they need to compensate slave owners if they ended slavery, and the details of this compensation could never be agreed upon. At the time, slaves were used primarily in the very high labor crops of tobacco and cotton, and southern growers felt they simply could not survive economically without their slaves. However, there was much more to slavery and its perpetuation...

There was the deep divide between the North and South, with the industrialized North having far different viewpoints than the agricultural South. There was also the growing societal views against blacks and free blacks, leading to a society that was based on prejudice and hatred rather than abolition. All of these factors helped perpetuate slavery, and Nash spells them all out in this book, making it easier for the reader to understand what happened to the idea of abolition after the country gained its freedom from Great Britain.
Ultimately, this book does make a significant contribution to my own understanding of history. Many of the myths that Nash debunks in this book have been so well-known and established that they are taken for fact, which made it difficult to understand why, in a country so obsessed with freedom from tyranny and oppression, slavery was allowed to continue. Nash does not make excuses for the decisions our forefathers made, instead he offers evidence and conclusions that show why they made their decisions, whether we believe they were right or wrong.

Personally, I think I have a greater understanding of the entire issue of freedom vs. slavery after reading this book, and it answers a lot of questions that have always bothered me. The book would certainly be useful for anyone who is interested in American history, or has always wondered how the issue of slavery seemed to "fall through the cracks" of the Constitution. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking more insight on American history, particularly how the Constitution and basic laws were framed, and what motivated the country at the time. This is an excellent book, and studying it in American history classes should be a common use of the book, because it is enlightening and illuminating, while still being interesting and informative.