This Tuesday (New Years day) marks the 200th anniversary of the first real step in the United States against slavery. On Jan 1, 1808 the foreign slave trade was outlawed. The Constitution of the United States when drafted contained a provision which forbade Congress from interfering with the slave trade before the year 1807. Congress passed the law ending the importation of slaves in the first year it was legally able to do so. It came into effect on the first day of the new year. Sadly it would be more than a half century from this date before slavery would finally be ended in the United States.
And, I'd like to add, sadly, we're still struggling with the repercussions of such evil in our time.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful anniversary to celebrate, though. Thank you very much for reminding us all of that!