Timeline from 1619-1770
1619:
At Jamestown, Virgina, approximately 20 captive Africans are sold into slavery in the British North American colonies.
1636:
Colonial North America's slave trade begins when the first American slave carrier, Desire, is built and launched in Massachusetts.
1640:
John Punch, a runaway black servant, is sentenced to servitude for life. His two white companions are given extended terms of servitude. Punch is the first documented slave for life.
1640:
New Netherlands law forbids residents from harboring or feeding runaway slaves.
1641:
Massachusetts is the first colony to legalize slavery.
1643:
The New England Confederation of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Haven adopts a fugitive slave law.
1654:
A Virginia court grants blacks the right to hold slaves.
1662:
Virgina enacts a low of hereditary slavery meaning that a child born to an enslaved mother inherits her slave status.
1662:
Massachusetts reverses a ruling dating back to 1652 that allowed blacks to train in arms. New York, Connecticut, and New Hampshire pass similar laws restricting the bearing of arms.
1663:
In Gloucester County, Virginia, the first documented slave rebellion in the colonies takes place.
1664:
The State of Maryland mandates lifelong servitude for all black slaves. New York, New Jersey, the Carolinas, and Virginia all pass similar laws.
1676:
In Virginia, black slaves and black and white indentured servants band together to participate in Bacon's Rebellion.
1680:
The State of Virginia forbids blacks and slaves from bearing arms, prohibits
blacks from congregating in large numbers, and mandates harsh punishment for
slaves who assault Christians or attempt escape.
1691:
Virginia passes the first anti-miscegenation law, forbidding marriages between whites and blacks or whites and Native Americans.
1703:
Massachusetts requires every master who liberates a slave to pay a bond of 50 pounds or more in case the freedman becomes a public charge.
At Jamestown, Virgina, approximately 20 captive Africans are sold into slavery in the British North American colonies.
1636:
Colonial North America's slave trade begins when the first American slave carrier, Desire, is built and launched in Massachusetts.
1640:
John Punch, a runaway black servant, is sentenced to servitude for life. His two white companions are given extended terms of servitude. Punch is the first documented slave for life.
1640:
New Netherlands law forbids residents from harboring or feeding runaway slaves.
1641:
Massachusetts is the first colony to legalize slavery.
1643:
The New England Confederation of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Haven adopts a fugitive slave law.
1654:
A Virginia court grants blacks the right to hold slaves.
1662:
Virgina enacts a low of hereditary slavery meaning that a child born to an enslaved mother inherits her slave status.
1662:
Massachusetts reverses a ruling dating back to 1652 that allowed blacks to train in arms. New York, Connecticut, and New Hampshire pass similar laws restricting the bearing of arms.
1663:
In Gloucester County, Virginia, the first documented slave rebellion in the colonies takes place.
1664:
The State of Maryland mandates lifelong servitude for all black slaves. New York, New Jersey, the Carolinas, and Virginia all pass similar laws.
1676:
In Virginia, black slaves and black and white indentured servants band together to participate in Bacon's Rebellion.
1680:
The State of Virginia forbids blacks and slaves from bearing arms, prohibits
blacks from congregating in large numbers, and mandates harsh punishment for
slaves who assault Christians or attempt escape.
1691:
Virginia passes the first anti-miscegenation law, forbidding marriages between whites and blacks or whites and Native Americans.
1703:
Massachusetts requires every master who liberates a slave to pay a bond of 50 pounds or more in case the freedman becomes a public charge.