-
The first slaves arrive in North America in 1619, marking the start of the slave trade in what would be the United States. -
In Jamestown of Virginia, Nathaniel Bacon refused to drive out Native American groups from West Virginia. The rebellion was mainly against Governer William Berkeley. -
The Germantown Quaker Petition was a petition that advocated against slavery. It was the first protest against African American slavery made in the English Colonies. -
In 1694 when rice plantations were established, slave demand doubled. The labor became more extreme, and slaves were treated even worse than they were before. -
In 1777, Vermont's constitution bans slavery, and allows African American males to vote. -
James Wilson proposed the 3/5 compromise, which declared that slaves were 3/5 of a person. This compromise was made so that states population counts were more accurate. Every 3 out of 5 slaves were counted. -
From the late 1700's to the 1800's, the Underground Railroad served as a safe transportation method of slaves. Over 100,000 slaves became free from their plantations because of this. -
Canada becomes a safe haven for slaves after they declare that any slave that enters their country not only gains freedom, but they cannot be returned back to their owners. -
Abraham Lincoln declared the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. The proclamation declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free." -
On December 18th, 1865, the 13th Amendment was officially a part of the United States Constitution. The amendment completely abolished slavery across the nation, freeing more than 100,000 slaves in the U.S.