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Simple English definitions for legal terms
ad ventrem inspiciendum
Read a random definition: singular
A quick definition of ad ventrem inspiciendum:
Term: ad ventrem inspiciendum
Definition: Ad ventrem inspiciendum is a Latin term that refers to the practice of examining the ancestry of a child to determine their legal status. It is also known as de ventre inspiciendo. This practice was commonly used during the time of slavery in the United States, where children born to enslaved women were automatically considered slaves themselves. Ad ventrem inspiciendum was used to determine whether a child was born to a free or enslaved mother, and therefore their legal status.
A more thorough explanation:
ad ventrem inspiciendum
Ad ventrem inspiciendum is a Latin term that means "to inspect the belly." It was a legal term used in the United States during the time of slavery to determine the status of a child born to a slave mother. If the child's mother was a slave, the child was also considered a slave, regardless of the father's status.
For example, if a slave woman gave birth to a child, the child's status would be determined by ad ventrem inspiciendum. If the child's mother was a slave, the child would also be considered a slave, even if the father was a free man.
This legal concept was used to maintain the institution of slavery and ensure that the children of slaves would also be slaves, perpetuating the cycle of slavery.