Legal Definitions - ad ventrem inspiciendum

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.