-
The Second Continental Congress resolves "that no slaves be imported into any of the thirteen United Colonies.
-
-
Pennsylvania adopts the first gradual emancipation law. Under this statute, no new slaves can be brought into the state, and the children of all existing slaves will be freed when they turn 28.
-
The Continental Congress enacts the Northwest Ordinance, prohibiting slavery in the territories north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River.
-
Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin, which allows for the cultivation of short- staple cotton and revolutionizes the industry. Makeing more slave needed to pick the cotton
-
Gabriel Prosser conspires to seize Richmond, Virginia with a large force of perhaps 1,000 armed slaves and then proceed with a general slaughter of whites. The conspircie is uncovered and 25 of the conspiretors are exicuted
-
The U.S. purchesed Louisiana from Franch for $15 million. Controversey over the states on weather they should be free states or slave states.
-
Congress passes a law prohibiting Americans from participating in the African slave trade. The ban, which goes into effect in 1808, will be inconsistently enforced until 1861.
-
A group of New England Federalists gathers in Hartford, Connecticut to discuss long-held grievances regarding the power of slaveholders in the federal government. Known as the "Hartford Convention," the group calls for several amendments to the Constitution, including a requirement for a two-thirds vote of Congress
-
The House and Senate are deadlocked over the question of whether to admit Missouri as a slave state. There is some fear of civil war.
-
Missouri is admitted to the Union as a slave state, but Congress agrees to forbid slavery in all other territory north of Missouri's southern border. With the addition of Missouri, the Union consists of twelve slave states and twelve free.
