When did African-American slavery end?

Answer 1

First, a note on something often misunderstood -- though the Emancipation Proclamation was NOT the instrument through which slavery was abolished in the United States, this act DID free slaves! While it is true that slaves in rebel territory did not gain their freedom the instant it was proclaimed (in final form on January 1, 1863). but it DID declare that all those slaves who had run away from their masters were free (and could rest assured the Union would NOT return them to slavery). And from then to the end of the war, as soon as Union forces were able to take charge of an area, its slaves were also freed.

Also the proclamation DID open the way for later gains. Along with the practice of allowing blacks to fight (and gain much respect doing so) and Lincoln's other political efforts, it helped convince border states to end slavery (as Lincoln had long urged them to do voluntarily), and finally to passage of the 13th amendment.

And the complaint that the Emancipation Proclamation did not free slaves in UNION territory is very misleading if not dishonest. The whole point is that the President had NO constitutional authority to simply declare slaves free no matter how much he might have wanted to! (And for some time before the Proclamation Lincoln had been pleading with the border states to abolish slavery and accept compensated emancipation.) The basis for the Proclamation was his WAR powers -- the right to deprive those in rebellion of property and other means of supporting that rebellion.

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Slavery was OFFICIALLY abolished throughtout the United States, when the 13th amendment to the Constitution was ratified by the states

Year 1865

(more precisely - Congress passes the amendment -January 31, 1865
[Lincoln signs it, although this is not required with Constitutional amendments]
amendment receives the required approval of legsislatures of 3/4 of the states -December 6, 1865
Secretary of State officially s the amendment's ratification: December 18, 1865)

Summary of dates:
http://www.nps.gov/malu/documents/amend13.htm

more of the story of the 13th amendment -
http://www.mrlincolnandfreedom.org/inside.asp?ID=56&subjectID=3
Check out the WHOLE site for interesting articles on Lincoln, the Emancipation Proclamation, etc. It should make clear that Sothron's claim that Lincoln did not really want to free the slaves is totally bogus. (In his final months he also began to push the idea that educated blacks and those who had fought in the war ought also be given the right to vote.)

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BUT there's a problem with the 1865 date for the ending of slavery.

Many have argued that this date is not accurate, because the South managed by various legal means to keep many blacks in a state that, except for the name, was slavery. Chief among these were the system of "peonage" (debt-slavery) and the "convict lease system", both of which persisted until the early 20th century.

Under the convict lease system, blacks might be arrested for petty (or even trumped up) charges, given very long sentences, then brutally worked by the state (think of the famous/infamous chain gangs) or leased out to farms or businesses. The system was frequently criticized, but only began to be dismantled during "the Progressive era". The last state to end this practice (also the first to use it, beginning in 1846) was Alabama. The legislature mandated that it end on June 30, 1928.

Hence, according to some reckonings, the date at which slavery was finally legally abolished was:
July 1, 1928.

http://www.archives.state.al.us/thisweek/chrono.html
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=214
(see Frederick Douglass's criticism of the system:
http://www.historyisaweapon.org/defcon1/fredouconlea.html)

How Southern states circumvented the 13th amendment (allowed by the federal courts):
http://www.bc.edu/schools/law/lawreviews/meta-elements/journals/bclawr/45_2/02_TXT.htm

Answer 2

Vermont abolished slavery in 1791. Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment, anti-slavery, on February 1, 1865. Lincoln was assassinated two months later. After the Civil War, 3/4ths of the then states ratified the 13th Amendment on December 6th, 1865. Offenses of that anti-slavery Amendment were still being prosecuted as late as 1947! Finally in 1995, Mississippi was the last state to ratify it.

Answer 3

People celebrate various dates in this country regarding the end of slavery, and it depends upon your viewpoint of when it really ended. January 1st is often celebrated because it is the official date that Abraham Lincoln set in the Emancipation Proclamation for the end of slavery in areas affected by the proclamation. August 1 used to be celebrated as Emancipation Day, as it marked the date in 1834 when Great Britain outlawed slavery in the British West Indies. June 19, 1865 is known as "Juneteenth," and it marks the day when Union troops entered Galveston, Texas, to announce the end of the Civil War. Gradually the date became celebrated outside of Texas and today is commonly called Juneteenth, and commemorates the day that the last slaves in the U.S. were liberated.

Answer 4

good question it ought to truly pass the two way. i'm useful we does not have colonists this modern day in spite of the shown fact that it quite relies upon. all the races being suppressed from White slave proprietors interior the U. S. might finally attempt to initiate a revolution and everybody might insurrection. the only undertaking is slaves possibly does not have get admission to to weapons so we'd ought to combat with our bare palms or home made weapons. If we get too uncontrolled they might relatively poison our food or provide us ailments like they did to the close by people. on the comparable time i'm useful we does not be finished morons and understand what tricks they might attempt to play. i don't understand. i think of we'd prevail. despite if all the races have been annihilated it would take a super blow to the economic gadget and life of the slave proprietors through fact they are going to all ought to get off their butts and initiate working.