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The First
Slaves first arrived to Virgina. -
All Men are......
"The Declaration of Independence declares that "All men are created equal." In spite of that, slavery remains a legal institution in all thirteen of the newly-established states." -
American Made Only
"In 1807 Congress bans the importation of slaves, effective January 1, 1808, the earliest date allowed by the Constitution. The internal slave trade continues in states where the institution is legal." -
NAT
"Nat Turner, a literate slave who believes he is chosen to be the Moses of his people, instigates a slave revolt in Virginia. He and his followers kill 57 whites, but the revolt is unsuccessful and up to 200 slaves are killed. After an intense debate, the Virginia legislature narrowly rejects a bill to emancipate Virginia's slaves.. The widespread fear of slave revolts, compounded by the rise of abolitionism, leads legislatures across the South to increase the harshness of slave codes." -
The Emancipation Proclamation
All the slaves in Confederate territory are declared free. The policy does not apply to the border states or to Southern territory held by the Union before January 1. Henceforth, as Union troops advance across the South, thousands of slaves are freed. The Emancipation Proclamation also reaffirms the president's authority to enlist black servicemen, and initiates an effort to organize all-black regiments. Nearly 200,000 black men will serve as Union soldiers, sailors, or laborers. -
Finally
Congress passes the proposed 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which bans slavery in the entire United States. -
The King
In Martin Luther King Jr's book, "Why We Can't Wait", King writes that while "no amount of gold could provide adequate compensation for the exploitation of the Negro in America down through the centuries," a price could be placed on unpaid wages. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964 -- Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race, sex, national origin, or religion. Title VI prohibits public access discrimination, leading to school desegregation. Title VIII is the original "federal fair housing law," later amended in 1988.
