The abolition of slavery was a complex and multifaceted process that unfolded over centuries, involving legal reforms, revolutionary movements, and profound social changes across the world.
From early attempts to limit slavery in colonial empires to the landmark legal decisions of the 19th century, each step forward represented a hard-won victory against deeply entrenched systems of exploitation.
While the formal abolition of slavery marked a significant milestone, the legacy of slavery and the fight against modern forms of human trafficking and forced labor continue to this day.
This timeline provides a detailed look at the major events and milestones in the global journey toward the abolition of slavery, highlighting the persistent efforts of abolitionists, the impact of revolutionary movements, and the legal milestones that helped dismantle institutionalized human bondage.
| 1500s | Spanish Queen Isabella orders Native Americans in the New World to be treated fairly, though this was often ignored. |
| 1542 | Spain enacts the New Laws, limiting the enslavement of Native Americans in Spanish colonies. |
| 1652 | Rhode Island passes laws restricting slavery, but they are not enforced. |
| 1772 | The Somerset Case in England effectively ends slavery in England, ruling that slavery was unsupported by English common law. |
| 1777 | Vermont, then an independent republic, becomes the first U.S. territory to abolish slavery. |
| 1780 | Pennsylvania enacts a gradual abolition of slavery. |
| 1787 | The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade is founded in Britain. |
| 1791-1804 | Haitian Revolution leads to the first successful slave rebellion, establishing Haiti as the first black republic and abolishing slavery. |
| 1803 | Denmark-Norway becomes the first European country to ban the transatlantic slave trade. |
| 1807 | Britain passes the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, ending the transatlantic slave trade in the British Empire. The United States follows with a similar law. |
| 1811 | Spain abolishes the slave trade to its colonies. |
| 1820 | The U.S. declares slave trading piracy, punishable by death. |
| 1833 | The Slavery Abolition Act is passed in the British Empire, freeing enslaved people in most colonies by 1838. |
| 1848 | France abolishes slavery in its colonies. |
| 1861 | Russia emancipates its serfs, affecting over 23 million people. |
| 1863 | The Emancipation Proclamation in the United States declares enslaved people in Confederate states to be free. |
| 1865 | The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolishes slavery throughout the United States. |
| 1886 | Slavery is abolished in Cuba. |
| 1888 | Brazil, the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery, passes the Golden Law. |
| 1906 | China formally abolishes slavery. |
| 1926 | The League of Nations adopts the Slavery Convention, aiming to eradicate slavery worldwide. |
| 1948 | The United Nations adopts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, asserting the right to freedom from slavery. |
| 1962 | Saudi Arabia and Yemen abolish slavery. |
| 1981 | Mauritania becomes the last country to abolish slavery, but enforcement remains inconsistent. |
| 2007 | The UK commemorates the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade with a formal apology. |
| 2010s-Present | Efforts to combat modern slavery, including human trafficking, forced labor, and child labor, continue through international organizations and treaties. |
| 2016 | The Global Slavery Index estimates 40.3 million people are still living in conditions of modern slavery. |
Abolition of Slavery Timeline
1500s Spanish Queen Isabella Orders Fair Treatment of Native Americans
During the early colonization of the New World, Spanish Queen Isabella issued directives that Native Americans should be treated fairly and not enslaved.
However, despite these orders, many Spanish colonists ignored the queen’s intentions, leading to widespread exploitation and forced labor of indigenous peoples.
Also Read: African American History Timeline
The encomienda system, which granted colonists the right to extract labor from Native Americans, became a de facto system of slavery.
1542 Spain Enacts the New Laws
In 1542, Spain introduced the New Laws (Leyes Nuevas) to protect indigenous people in its American colonies. These laws, promoted by Bartolomé de las Casas, aimed to end the abuses of the encomienda system by prohibiting the enslavement of Native Americans.
Although they faced resistance from colonists, the New Laws marked an early legal effort to curtail slavery in the Spanish Empire.
1652 Rhode Island Passes Laws Restricting Slavery
Rhode Island was one of the earliest American colonies to attempt to restrict slavery. The 1652 legislation mandated that no black or white person should be held as a slave for more than ten years.
Also Read: Accomplishments of the Civil Rights Movement
Unfortunately, these laws were not enforced, and slavery persisted in the colony, particularly through its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.
1772 The Somerset Case in England
The Somerset v. Stewart case in 1772 was a significant legal decision in England. James Somerset, an enslaved African, was brought to England by his master, Charles Stewart. When Somerset escaped and was recaptured, abolitionists challenged his detention.
The court, under Lord Mansfield, ruled that slavery was unsupported by English law, leading to the effective end of slavery within England, though not in its colonies.
1777 Vermont Abolishes Slavery
Vermont, which was an independent republic at the time, included a ban on slavery in its constitution. This made Vermont the first U.S. territory to formally abolish slavery. When Vermont joined the United States in 1791, it continued to uphold its anti-slavery stance, setting a precedent for northern states.
1780 Pennsylvania Enacts Gradual Abolition
Pennsylvania passed the Gradual Abolition Act of 1780, becoming the first state to begin the abolition of slavery in the United States.
The act did not free existing enslaved people but declared that all children born in the state would be free. This gradual approach reflected the political and social challenges of outright abolition during the era.
1787 British Abolition Movement Gains Momentum
The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade was founded in Britain in 1787 by activists including Granville Sharp and Thomas Clarkson.
The society used pamphlets, petitions, and testimonies from former enslaved people to raise awareness about the horrors of the slave trade, influencing public opinion and political action in Britain.
1791-1804 Haitian Revolution
The Haitian Revolution was a landmark event in the history of slavery. Enslaved Africans in the French colony of Saint-Domingue rose up against their oppressors, leading to a prolonged and bloody struggle.
In 1804, Haiti declared independence, becoming the first black republic and the only nation to achieve independence through a successful slave rebellion. The revolution also led to the abolition of slavery in Haiti.
1803 Denmark-Norway Bans the Slave Trade
Denmark-Norway was the first European nation to ban its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade in 1803. While this did not immediately end slavery within its colonies, it marked an important step towards the eventual abolition of slavery in Danish territories and inspired other nations to take similar steps.
1807 Britain and the U.S. Ban the Slave Trade
In 1807, the British Parliament passed the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, which outlawed the transatlantic slave trade within the British Empire.
The United States also banned the importation of enslaved people that same year. While slavery itself remained legal, these measures significantly disrupted the supply of enslaved Africans to the Americas.
1811 Spain Abolishes the Slave Trade
Spain outlawed the slave trade to its colonies in 1811. However, illegal trading continued, particularly in Cuba, where slavery remained an economic cornerstone. Despite legal restrictions, enforcement was weak, and thousands of enslaved Africans continued to be transported to Spanish colonies.
1820 U.S. Declares Slave Trading Piracy
The United States declared the international slave trade as an act of piracy in 1820. This meant that those caught engaging in the trade could face the death penalty. Although this law was not widely enforced, it demonstrated a growing condemnation of the transatlantic slave trade.
1833 Slavery Abolition Act in the British Empire
The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 abolished slavery throughout the British Empire, with an exception for territories controlled by the East India Company.
Slavery in these regions would not be abolished until 1843. The Act also provided for a period of apprenticeship, which was effectively an extension of forced labor until 1838, when full emancipation was achieved.
1848 France Abolishes Slavery
France abolished slavery in its colonies in 1848 under the leadership of Victor Schœlcher, a prominent abolitionist. This marked the second and final abolition, as France had briefly abolished slavery during the French Revolution, only for it to be reinstated under Napoleon. The 1848 abolition was part of broader revolutionary changes sweeping Europe.
1861 Russia Emancipates Serfs
In 1861, Tsar Alexander II issued the Emancipation Manifesto, freeing over 23 million serfs in Russia. While not considered chattel slavery, the serfdom system bound peasants to the land and to the will of the landowners. The reform allowed former serfs to buy land, although many ended up in poverty due to the burdensome terms.
1863 Emancipation Proclamation in the United States
President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War. The proclamation declared all enslaved people in Confederate states to be free, changing the nature of the war to a fight against slavery. It paved the way for the eventual abolition of slavery nationwide.
1865 Thirteenth Amendment Abolishes Slavery in the U.S.
The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified on December 6, 1865, abolishing slavery throughout the United States. This legal end to slavery also prohibited involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It was a critical step towards civil rights, though systemic inequalities persisted.
1886 Cuba Abolishes Slavery
Cuba, under Spanish colonial rule, abolished slavery in 1886. Economic and social pressures, as well as the growing anti-slavery movement in Europe, influenced the decision. Formerly enslaved people were granted freedom, but economic opportunities remained limited.
1888 Brazil Passes the Golden Law
On May 13, 1888, Brazil became the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery with the passing of the Golden Law (Lei Áurea). Princess Isabel signed the law, which provided immediate emancipation without compensation to slave owners. The abolition of slavery in Brazil led to significant social and economic changes.
1981 Mauritania Abolishes Slavery
Mauritania was the last country to formally abolish slavery, in 1981. However, enforcement remained inconsistent, and reports of modern slavery practices, including hereditary servitude, continued into the 21st century. The government has since taken more robust actions to criminalize and eradicate slavery.
2016 Global Slavery Index
The 2016 Global Slavery Index estimated that 40.3 million people were still living in conditions of modern slavery. These included forced labor, human trafficking, and forced marriages. The index highlighted the persistence of slavery-like practices despite widespread legal prohibitions.