The time you spent spot-welding Vermont into a discussion of the 13 original states would have been better spent reading, rather than skimming, my post.
And did you know that the “abolition” of slavery which you claim occurred in Pennsylvania “by the time of the 1787 Constitution Convention” was actually more like gradual emancipation. By some accounts, the Pennsylvania law was written so that it was possible for a slave descendant to remain in slavery until 1848.
Puritans called it “philanthropy at bargain prices.”
Vermont, our 14th state, was actually the first to make abolition law.
So I think they deserve a place of honor in this discussion.
jeffersondem: "And did you know that the 'abolition' of slavery which you claim occurred in Pennsylvania 'by the time of the 1787 Constitution Convention' was actually more like gradual emancipation."
Sure, it's why I chose my words carefully: abolition was law in all those states -- some accomplished abolition more rapidly than others.
jeffersondem: "By some accounts, the Pennsylvania law was written so that it was possible for a slave descendant to remain in slavery until 1848."
Here are the actual numbers: in 1790 the US had about 700,000 slaves, 94% in the South.
Of the 40,000 Northern slaves, 10% were held in Pennsylvania in 1790.
1840 was the last census reporting any Pennsylvania slaves -- 64.
Gradual abolition was the model expected and practiced by our Founders at the time of the 1787 Constitution Convention.
So the facts remain just as I posted: "by the time of the 1787 Constitution Convention abolition was law in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Abolition was also dictated by Congress in 1787 in what were then called the 'Northwest Territories' -- Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois & Wisconsin."
Further, five states including North Carolina allowed freed slaves to vote, meaning Crazy Roger Taney was completely out of his mind in his 1856 Dred Scott ruling.