When Was Slavery Abolished? A Comprehensive History of the Abolition of Slavery

Slavery has been a part of human history for centuries, and its abolition was a long and arduous process. This article provides a comprehensive history of the abolition of slavery, from its early beginnings to the present day.

When I Was a Slave: Memoirs from the Slave Narrative Collection (Dover Thrift Editions: Black History)

by Norman R. Yetman

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Early Abolitionist Movements

The first recorded abolitionist movement began in the 16th century, when Spanish priest Bartolomé de las Casas condemned the treatment of Native Americans by European colonists. In the 17th century, the Quakers became the first religious group to officially oppose slavery. In the 18th century, the abolitionist movement gained momentum in England and the American colonies. In 1772, the English abolitionist Granville Sharp won a landmark legal case that freed a slave named James Somerset. In 1787, the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade was founded in England. In 1793, the French National Convention abolished slavery in the French colonies.

The Abolition of Slavery in the United States

The abolition of slavery in the United States was a long and bloody process. The first major step towards abolition was the passage of the Northwest Ordinance in 1787, which banned slavery in the Northwest Territory. In 1808, the international slave trade was abolished in the United States. However, slavery continued to exist in the Southern states, where it was an important part of the economy. In 1831, the abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison founded the American Anti-Slavery Society. The abolitionist movement grew throughout the 1830s and 1840s, but it was met with fierce resistance from pro-slavery forces. In 1854, the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed slavery to be legal in new territories, sparked a wave of violence and led to the outbreak of the American Civil War.

The American Civil War ended in 1865 with the Union victory and the abolition of slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery, was ratified in 1865. However, the abolition of slavery did not end racism in the United States. In the years that followed the Civil War, the South was subjected to a period of Reconstruction, during which time the federal government tried to help freed slaves adjust to their new lives. However, Reconstruction was largely unsuccessful, and the South remained a segregated society.

The Abolition of Slavery in Other Countries

The abolition of slavery in the United States was a major turning point in the history of the world. However, slavery continued to exist in many other countries. In 1888, the British Empire abolished slavery in all of its colonies. In 1890, the Brussels Conference outlawed the slave trade in Africa. In 1926, the League of Nations adopted the Slavery Convention, which committed its members to abolishing slavery and the slave trade. In the years after World War II, slavery was abolished in most of the remaining countries in the world. However, slavery still exists in some parts of the world today, such as in Mauritania and Sudan.

The Legacy of Slavery

The legacy of slavery is still felt today. Racism and discrimination continue to be major problems in many parts of the world. The abolition of slavery was a major step forward, but there is still much work to be done to achieve true racial equality.

The abolition of slavery was a long and arduous process, but it was ultimately successful. Slavery is now illegal in most countries in the world, and it is no longer tolerated. However, the legacy of slavery continues to haunt us today. Racism and discrimination are still major problems in many parts of the world, and we must continue to work to achieve true racial equality.

When I Was a Slave: Memoirs from the Slave Narrative Collection (Dover Thrift Editions: Black History)

by Norman R. Yetman

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3259 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	162 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE