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Period: to
Slavery 1619-1964
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First Africans in America
The first English colony in North America, Virginia, acquired its first Africans in 1619, after a ship arrived, unsolicited, carrying a cargo of about 20 Africans. -
Massachusetts colony legalizes slavery.
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Virginia Colony
Virginia colony enacts law to fine those who harbor or assist runaway slaves. The Virginia law, penalizes people sheltering runaways 20 pounds worth of tobacco for each night of refuge granted. Slaves are branded after a second escape attempt. -
Slavery!
Slavery spread quickly in the American colonies. At first the legal status of Africans in America was poorly defined, and some, like European indentured servants, managed to become free after several years of service. From the 1660s, however, the colonies began enacting laws that defined and regulated slave relations. Central to these laws was the provision that black slaves, and the children of slave women, would serve for life. -
Change of law
A reference to slavery entered into Virginia law, and this law was directed at white servants -- at those who ran away with a black servant. The following year, the colony went one step further by stating that children born would be bonded or free according to the status of the mother -
America-England
Parliament opens the slave trade to British merchants, who will in some cases carry on a triangular trade from New England to Africa to the Caribbean islands to New England. The merchant vessels will carry New England rum to African slavers, African slaves on "the middle passage" to the West Indies, and West Indian sugar and molasses to New England for the rum distilleries. -
slave revolt
New York Slave revolt. Nine whites killed, Twenty-one slaves executed.Twenty-three slaves rose up in rebellion because of mistreatment. They killed nine whites before they were defeated. The captured slaves were all either hanged or burnt at the stake. -
Illegal slavery
Slavery is made illegal in the Northwest Territory. The U.S Constitution states that Congress may not ban the slave trade until 1808. -
The Missouri Compromise bans slavery north of the southern boundary of Missouri.
By 1818, Missouri Territory had gained sufficient population to warrant its admission into the Union as a state. Its settlers came largely from the South, and it was expected that Missouri would be a slave state. To a statehood bill brought before the House of Representatives, James Tallmadge of New York proposed an amendment that would forbid importation of slaves and would bring about the ultimate emancipation of all slaves born in Missouri. This amendment passed the House (Feb., 1819). -
Republican Party
Republican Party formed, creating a coalition that included anti-slavery factions and Free-Soilers. -
Decision
Dred Scott v. Sanford decision declares federal government has no right to interfere with the status of slavery in the territories; also denies citizenship to African Americans -
Abraham Lincoln
Illinois U.S. senate candidate Abraham Lincoln delivers "A House Divided" speech on slavery during a series of debates with Srnator Stephen Douglas. -
Civil War 1861-1865
Start of American Civil War: 12.4.1861
End of American Civil War: 9.4.1865
