Congress Bans Importation of African Slaves
At a glance:
- Series: Great Events from History: North American Series
- Categories: Government and Politics, Social Issues, Reform, and Protest, Economics
- Subcategories: Slavery, Slaves
- Curriculum: African American History, American Early National History (1789-1815)
- Geographical Location: Washington, D.C.
- Date: March 2, 1807
Article abstract: Outlawing a two-century tradition fails to condemn slavery outright, reflecting the young nation’s moral ambiguity.
Summary of Event
Because the essence of slavery is to regard human beings as property, the buying and selling of slaves is implicit in the institution; therefore, the slave trade is as old as slavery itself. In the ancient Mediterranean world, slaves were obtained from many locations, including North Africa. The Portuguese began importing African slaves as early as 1444, and at the end of the same century, Christopher...
[The entire page is 1563 words long]
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