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The first black slaves were brought to [[Jamestown]] Colony early on.  Originally, slavery was legal in every British American colony.  However, after the [[American Revolution]], the [[Massachusetts Supreme Court]] ruled that, since the new [[Constitution of Massachusetts|constitution]] read, "All men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential, and unalienable rights; among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties", it made slavery illegal.  By 1804, slavery had been abolished in every northern state.<ref>However, in many states, current slaves remained in servitude for the rest of their lives.</ref>

The first black slaves were brought to [[Jamestown]] Colony early on.  Originally, slavery was legal in every British American colony.  However, after the [[American Revolution]], the [[Massachusetts Supreme Court]] ruled that, since the new [[Constitution of Massachusetts|constitution]] read, "All men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential, and unalienable rights; among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties", it made slavery illegal.  By 1804, slavery had been abolished in every northern state.<ref>However, in many states, current slaves remained in servitude for the rest of their lives.</ref>

    

    

While Virginia had unsuccessfully tried to abolish slavery several times, [[The South]] subsequently became more militant in defense of slavery.  [[John C. Calhoun]] and other southerners called it the South's "peculiar institution".  It flourished in the Southern states until military emancipation during the [[American Civil War]] and [[Reconstruction]]. This was a case of racial slavery--the slaves were black, the owners were white.<ref> A few free blacks owned slaves--usually relatives they had purchased from whites. Indian tribes also had slaves, both Indian and black.</ref>

[[The South]] after 1800 became more militant in defense of slavery.  [[John C. Calhoun]] and other southerners called it the South's "peculiar institution" and proclaimed it a good idea. Some proponents suggested it would also be a good idea for white workers who were living under worse conditions in Northern cities.<ref> Elizabeth Fox-Genovese and Eugene D. Genovese, ''Slavery in White and Black: Class and Race in the Southern Slaveholders'' (2008)</ref> It flourished in the Southern states until [[Abraham Lincoln]] and his Union Army abolished it during the [[American Civil War]]. This was a case of racial slavery--the slaves were black, the owners were white.<ref> A few free blacks owned slaves--usually relatives they had purchased from whites. Indian tribes also had slaves, both Indian and black.</ref>

==British Empire==

==British Empire==