Peculiar institution

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The "peculiar institution" was an euphemism for slavery and the economic ramifications of it in the American South. The term aimed to explain away the seeming contradiction of legalized slavery in a country whose Declaration of Independence states that "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." The term also refers to the reality of legally-recognized slavery conferring a property right over a person, as the term "peculiar" derives from the Latin word "peculium", meaning private property. It was in popular use during the first half of the 19th century, especially in legislative bodies, as the word slavery was deemed "improper," and was actually banned in certain areas.

This phrase is used notably in the speeches and writings of John C. Calhoun, including his Speech on the Reception of Abolition Petitions.

In the United States, following the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, which overturned laws prohibiting abortion in all 50 states, political opponents of abortion have taken to referring to abortion as the "new peculiar institution"; in an effort to associate the perception, as they see it, of unborn fetuses as property to be disposed of with the 19th century view of slaves as private property; and to discredit the institution of abortion in general by associating it with slavery.