SLAVE TRADE
Conditions on slave ship
March 25, 2007 - 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in all British colonies and in the United States. Slave ships were cargo vessels converted for the purpose of transporting slaves from Africa to the Americas. In order to achieve high profits, ship owners divided the hull into between decks, to fit in as many slaves as possible. Sanitation was practically non-existent and mortality rates were high.
February 25, 1807 - Britain’s parliament voted to abolish the slave trade. The bill received royal assent and became law on March 25, 1807
February 4, 1793 - Slavery was abolished in all French colonies.
December 18,1865 - Ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery throughout the United States and it’s territories. January 1, 1863 - U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, formally freeing slaves. June 13, 1774 Rhode Island became the first U.S. colony to ban the import of slaves.