Changes

==U.S.==

==U.S.==

The [[American Revolution]] was a pivotal moment in establishing a permanent and lasting place within the [[British Empire]].  During the 16th through 18th centuries, European colonial powers practiced a cold [[Mercentalism]], an economic system which only focused on generating the greatest amount of trade that could be amassed, particularly how much could be raised for the benefit of the government or "mother-country".  But the rise of the United States gave the world its first voice of Liberty:<ref>[https://archives.history.ac.uk/history-in-focus/Slavery/articles/walvin.html Abolishing the slave trade]</ref>

The [[American Revolution]] was a pivotal moment in establishing a permanent and lasting place for abolitionism within the [[British Empire]].  During the 16th through 18th centuries, European colonial powers practiced a cold [[Mercentalism]], an economic system which only focused on generating the greatest amount of trade that could be amassed, particularly how much could be raised for the benefit of the government or "mother-country".  But the rise of the United States gave the world its first voice of Liberty:<ref>[https://archives.history.ac.uk/history-in-focus/Slavery/articles/walvin.html Abolishing the slave trade]</ref>

<blockquote>The major turning point however was the break-away of the American colonies in 1776–1783. The ideology of that revolution established a universal vernacular of equality which could not simply be limited to white people (its impact on slavery in North America took a different trajectory, however). That war also left the British with thousands of 'loyalist' ex-slaves on their hands; people who had accepted the British offer of freedom in return for joining the (losing) British side.</blockquote>

<blockquote>The major turning point however was the break-away of the American colonies in 1776–1783. The ideology of that revolution established a universal vernacular of equality which could not simply be limited to white people (its impact on slavery in North America took a different trajectory, however). That war also left the British with thousands of 'loyalist' ex-slaves on their hands; people who had accepted the British offer of freedom in return for joining the (losing) British side.</blockquote>