From Slavery to Emancipation: Key Legislative Events from 1700-1812 that Cultivated the Civil War (G.D.)
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Virginia Slave Codes of 1705 passed
The Virginia Slave Codes were a set of laws that solidified slavery and white supremacy. The Slave codes doomed all black indentures servants, even those close to the end of their service, to a lifetime of slavery. The laws dictated slaves as property and gave slavers the right to punish their slaves as they saw fit without consequence, even it resulted in the slave's death. The laws also greatly restricted the rights of blacks. -
Slave Code of South Carolina
Also known as "An Act for Better Ordering and Governing of Negroes and other Slaves in this Province", the Slave Code of South Carolina put into writing slaves' lack of rights and in comparison to their white counterparts. Slaves were forbidden from learning to read, write, farming their own food, and entailed harsher consequences for breaking the law. Under this code, if a slave killed a white person, it was considered a crime. If a white owner killed a slave, they would merely be fined. -
The Beginning of a Revolution
The American Revolution has begins. George Washington allows African-Americans, enslaved and freed to join the army to fight the British. In contrast, the British also entice the African slaves with promises of freedom if they fight along side the British. Lord Dunmore, a loyalist, is known for his Proclamation, "all indentured servants, Negroes, or others...free that are able and willing to bear arms." Patriots and Loyalists race to gather bodies to support their causes. -
Vermont Bans Slavery
As an independent state, Vermont bans slavery. Vermont placed age limitations on slavery in their constitution. Men were no longer slaves upon reaching the age of 21 and women upon reaching the age of 18. However once admitted to the Union, was at the mercy of the Fugitive Slave clause which forced Vermont to return fleeing slaves seeking refuge back to their masters. -
Pennsylvania moves toward abolition...but gradually
At this point in time, Pennsylvania bans further importation of slaves. Pennsylvania also enacts the gradual emancipation law which entails that children born in Pennsylvania were to enslaved mothers as indentured servants. However, those born prior to 1780 remained slaves. Born indentured servants would be free upon reaching 28 years of age. -
Massachusetts follows Vermont
Slavery was abolished in Massachusetts in 1780 through the new Massachusetts Constitution. The case for abolishment was further supported in 1783, by the case of Quock Walker v. Jennison. Walker sued his owner for his freedom and won. The jury freed Quock on the basis that slavery was unconstitutional based on the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights. -
Rhode Island and Connecticut follow Pennsylvania
Rhode Island and Connecticut also enact gradual emancipation laws. Connecticut's gradual emancipation laws gave freedom to the children of slaves born after 1784 upon reaching the age of 25 for men and 21 for women. The enslaved parents, however, were not free. Rhode Island's born indentured servants were freed at 18 (males) and 21 (females). -
New York frees Slaves
As promised, New York frees slaves who served in the American Revolution. The New York Manumission Society was also founded at this time. The New York Manumission Society was an organization that worked to abolish slavery, end the slave trade, and defend people of color. This organization also established the first formal school for blacks in New York. This is a step forward, but New York doesn't entirely abolish slavery until 1827. -
Constitution Drafted
Should slaves be counted as part of the population? The U.S. Constitution is drafted, but has allows slavery to continue for years. Due to the overwhelming slave population in the south, the Three-Fifths Compromise was enacted.The Three-Fifths Compromise determined that slaves would only account for 3/5 of a person when it comes to population legislative and tax purposes. It was proposed that each state would be taxed according to its numbers.
