How did popular views of property rights prevent slaves from enjoying all the freedoms of the social contract?

Prior to the end of the civil war, chattel slaves especially from the African American communities were viewed as property. Popular views of property rights neither accorded civil liberties to slaves nor considered them citizens who had legal rights. They did not belong and thus, were not part of the social contract. Since slaves belonged to the white man, they were dependent upon them and not the governments that were supposed to protect their natural rights. The lack of personal independence was the major reason why slaves could not enter the social contract.