Slavery

Slavery

By: Nicholas,Magdalena,Bianca,

Marcus

Slavery began in prehistoric times and has been practiced ever since. The slavery of ancient times reached its peak in Greece and the Roman Empire. During the Middle Ages, slavery declined.

Then, during the 1500's and 1600's, the colonization of the New World by Europeans resulted in a great expansion of slavery. Changing moral attitudes about slavery helped cause its decline during the 1800's. The United States abolished slavery in 1865.

Today, slavery is illegal in almost every country in the world. But slavery still exists in parts of Africa, Asia, and South America.

During the late 1700's, black slavery began to decline in various parts of the Western Hemisphere. The Revolutionary War in America helped cause gradual emancipation (freeing of slaves) in the North. In 1807, the British Parliament passed a bill outlawing slave trade.

Also in 1807, the U.S. Congress prohibited the importation of slaves into the United States. The law took effect in 1808.

During the early 1800's, most of Spain's Latin American colonies won wars of independence. These countries immediately abolished slavery or adopted laws for gradual emancipation.

In 1833, an act of Parliament called for the abolition of slavery throughout the British empire.

In 1848, France freed the slaves in its remaining colonies in the Western Hemisphere.

But slavery continued to expand in Brazil, Cuba, and the Southern United States. During the Civil War, Northern armies freed most of the slaves in the nation. Adoption of the 13th Amendment completed abolition in 1865.

Spain ended slavery in Puerto Rico in 1873 and in Cuba in 1886, and Brazil abolished slavery in 1888.Today, few nations legally allow slavery. But slavery does continue in areas of Africa, Asia, and South America.

No one knows exactly how many people still live in slavery. Most of these slaves are blacks and Indians who were captured in local conflicts or were sold to satisfy debts. Slavery remains a strongly accepted custom among the people who practice it.

Therefore, some governments may not want to stop slavery, and other governments may be unable to end it even if they wished to do so.

Reference

http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/slavery/Slavery.htm

http://www.religioustolerance.org/slavery.htm

Discussion Question

How did slavery start?

What happen during slavery?

How did slavery end?

Where did slavery first started?

Who started slavery?

Where in the world slavery still happens?