Slavery

Slavery is a condition of control over a person, known as a slave, that can be enforced by violence or other forms of coercion against his or her will. Slavery almost always occurs for the purpose of securing the labor of the slave. A specific form, known as chattel slavery, is defined by the absolute legal ownership of a person or persons, including the legal right to buy and sell them.

Abolitionist movements

Slavery's origins are prehistoric. So, too, are movements to free large or distinct groups of them. Moses led Israelite slaves from ancient Egypt in the Biblical Book of Exodus - possibly the first detailed account of a movement to free slaves. However, abolitionism should be distinguished from efforts to help a particular group of slaves, or to restrict one practice, such as the slave trade.

Related Topics:
Prehistoric - Moses - Ancient Egypt - Biblical - Book of Exodus - Abolitionism - Slave trade

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1772, a legal case concerning James Somerset made it illegal to remove a slave from England against his will. A similar case, that of Joseph Knight, took place in Scotland five years later and ruled slavery to be contrary to the law of Scotland.

Related Topics:
James Somerset - Joseph Knight

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Following the work of campaigners in Britain, the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act was passed by Parliament on March 25, 1807. The act imposed a fine of £100 for every slave found aboard a British ship. The intention was to entirely outlaw the slave trade within the whole British Empire.

Related Topics:
Abolition of the Slave Trade Act - Parliament - March 25 - 1807 - Slave trade

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Slavery Abolition Act, passed on August 23, 1833, outlawed slavery itself in the British colonies. On August 1, 1834 all slaves in the British Empire were emancipated, but still indentured to their former owners in an apprenticeship system which was finally abolished in 1838.

Related Topics:
Slavery Abolition Act - August 23 - 1833 - August 1 - 1834 - 1838

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

France never authorized slavery on its mainland, but authorized it in some of its overseas possessions. On February 4, 1794, Abbé Grégoire and the Convention abolished slavery. Slaves in Haiti revolted when their masters didn't accept the new rules from the metropolis. It was re-established in 1802 by Napoleon, but failed to take hold because of the Haitian Slave Revolt in 1803 which gained them their independance. Haiti became the first Black republic in 1803.

Related Topics:
France - Overseas - Possessions - February 4 - 1794 - Abbé Grégoire - Convention - 1802 - Napoleon

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sierra Leone was established as a country for former slaves of the British Empire back in Africa. Liberia served an analogous purpose for American slaves. The goal of the abolitionists was repatriation of the slaves to Africa. Some trade unions as well didn't want the cheap labor of former slaves around. Nevertheless, most of them stayed in America.

Related Topics:
Sierra Leone - Liberia - American - Trade union

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Slaves in the United States who escaped ownership would often make their way north to Canada via the "Underground Railroad". Famously active abolitionists of the U.S. include Harriet Tubman, Nat Turner, Frederick Douglass and John Brown.

Related Topics:
United States - Canada - Underground Railroad - Abolitionists - Harriet Tubman - Nat Turner - Frederick Douglass - John Brown

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The 1926 Slavery Convention, an initiative of the League of Nations, was a turning point in banning global slavery. Article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948 by the UN General Assembly, explicity banned slavery. The United Nations 1956 Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery was convened to outlaw and ban slavery worldwide, including child slavery. In December 1966, the UN General Assembly adopted the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which was developed from the Universal Declaraction of Human Rights. Article 8 of this international treaty bans slavery. The treaty came into force in March 1976 after it had been ratified by 35 nations. As of November 2003, 104 nations had ratified the treaty.

Related Topics:
League of Nations - Universal Declaration of Human Rights - 1948 - United Nations 1956 Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery - December - 1966 - International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - March - 1976 - As of November 2003

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~