What was established by the Slave Trade Compromise during the Constitutional Convention of 1787?

The Slave Trade Compromise was a significant outcome of the debates during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, reflecting the tensions between Northern and Southern states regarding the issue of slavery and the slave trade. The compromise stipulated that Congress would not be able to act on the regulation or abolition of the international slave trade for a period of twenty years, effectively delaying any legislative effort to address the slave trade until 1808.

This arrangement was essential in securing the cooperation of Southern states, who were concerned about the economic implications of ending the slave trade. By allowing the slave trade to continue for two decades, it enabled the Southern states to maintain and expand their labor force, which was heavily reliant on enslaved individuals. This compromise demonstrated how critical the issue of slavery was to the formation of the United States and helped to highlight the foundational conflicts that would eventually lead to the Civil War.

The other options do not accurately reflect the terms set by the Slave Trade Compromise, as Congress did not gain the authority to end the slave trade immediately, it did not mandate the continuation of slavery in all states, nor did it provide legal protections specifically for free African Americans.