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Slaves Come to America
In 1619, a Dutch ship brings 20 African slaves to Jamestown, Virginia. (https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/slavery) -
Slavery Legalized
Massachusetts becomes the first state to legalize slavery after creating the Massachusetts Body of Liberties. (https://www.nationalgeographic.org/interactive/slavery-united-states/) -
Hereditary Slavery
Virginia passes a law declaring that "children shall be bond or free according to the condition of their mother." This meant that children from enslaved mothers would be slaves for their entire lives. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/interactive/slavery-united-states/ -
First Anti-Slavery Resolution
Pennsylvania Quakers pass the first anti-slavery resolution in America. -
Florida the Safe Haven
Spanish Florida promises freedom for runaway slaves and remains a safe haven for the next 80 years (https://www.nationalgeographic.org/interactive/slavery-united-states/) -
Stono Rebellion
The largest slave uprising in the colonies takes place in Stono, South Carolina. 80 people are killed and the militia prevents the slaves from reaching freedom in Florida. (https://www.nationalgeographic.org/interactive/slavery-united-states/) -
First Black Church
The first black church opens in Aiken County, South Carolina. These churches became very important in the community as they were vital in the fight for emancipation and justice. (https://www.nationalgeographic.org/interactive/slavery-united-states/) -
Vermont Bans Slavery
Vermont becomes the first state to abolish slavery outright in their constitution. (https://www.nationalgeographic.org/interactive/slavery-united-states/) -
The Three-Fifths Compromise
The US Constitution is ratified to allow for slaves who flee to another state (even a free state) to be returned to their owners and also declared that slaves would be counted a "three-fifths of a person" for a state's population. (https://www.nationalgeographic.org/interactive/slavery-united-states/) -
Slave Trade Outlawed
A new act declares that no new slaves will be brought to the United States, however, this act was not well enforced and slaves still made their way into the country. -
Harriet Tubman Escapes Slavery
Harriet Tubman escapes slavery but quickly returns to free family members. Tubman makes over a dozen trips over the next eight years to lead slaves to freedom. -
Dred Scott
In Dred Scott v. Standford, the US Supreme Court denies citizenship to all slaves, ex-slaves, and descendants of slaves and denies Congress the right to abolish slavery in the territories. (https://www.nationalgeographic.org/interactive/slavery-united-states/) -
Civil War Begins
Slavery is determined as the immediate cause of the war by Confederate VP, Alexander Stephens. (https://www.nationalgeographic.org/interactive/slavery-united-states/) -
Slavery Abolished
Slavery is abolished with the addition of the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is enacted ending segregation in public places and banning employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. (https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-act)