Slavery

  • The first american slaves arrived in Virginia.

  • Slavery is made illegal in the north west territory the U.S consituation states that congress may not ban the slave trade in 1808

  • A federal fugitive slave law is enacted providing for the return slaves who had escaped and crossed state lines.

  • Congress bans the importation of slaves from africa.

  • The Missouri compromise bans slavery north of the southern boundary of Missouri.

  • The slave population in u.s numbers more than two million, making the ratio of free 5.5:1

  • Texas enters the union as a slave state.

  • The slave population is now nearly four million, making the ratio of free to enslaved Americans approximately 7:1.

  • President Lincoln issues the emancipation, proclamation, declaring that "all persons held as slaves" within the confederate state "are and henceforward shall be free