1772
In Britain, Lord Chief Justice Mansfield rules that English law does not support slavery, thus laying the basis for freeing England’s 15,000 slaves.
1774
The English Society of Friends votes for the expulsion of any member engaged in the slave trade.
1775
Slavery abolished in Madeira.
1776
The Societies of Friends in England and in Pennsylvania in the U.S. require their members to free their slaves or face expulsion.
1777
The Constitution of the State of Vermont prohibits slavery.
1780
The Constitution of Massachusetts declares all men to be free and equal; a judicial decision in 1783 interprets this as meaning that slavery should be abolished.
Pennsylvania adopts a policy of gradual emancipation, freeing the children of all slaves born after 1 November 1780 on their 28th birthday.
1784
Rhode Island and Connecticut pass gradual emancipation laws.
1787
The “Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade” is set up in England.
1791
The Haitian Revolution begins.
1794
The French National Convention abolishes slavery in all French territories. This is repealed by Napoleon in 1802.
1799
New York State passes a gradual emancipation law.
1800
U.S. citizens barred from exporting slaves.
1804
Haiti declares independence from France, and slavery there is abolished.
New Jersey adopts a policy of gradual emancipation.
1805
The Constitution of Haiti provides that any slave arriving in Haiti is automatically both free and a citizen of the country.
1807
England and the United States prohibit their citizens from engaging in the international slave trade.
1813
Gradual emancipation adopted in Argentina.
1814
Gradual emancipation begins in Colombia.
1820
Britain begins to use its naval power to suppress the slave trade.
1823
Slavery abolished in Chile.
1824
Slavery abolished in Central America.
1829
Slavery abolished in Mexico.
1831
Slavery abolished in Bolivia.
1838
Slavery abolished in all British colonies.
1841
The Quintuple Treaty is signed, under which England, France, Russia, Prussia and Austria agree to search vessels on the high seas in order to suppress the slave trade.
1842
Slavery abolished in Uruguay.
1848
Slavery abolished in all French and Danish colonies.
1851
Slavery abolished in Ecuador.
Slave trade ended in Brazil.
1854
Slavery abolished in Peru and Venezuela.
1862
Slave trade ended in Cuba.
1863
Slavery abolished in all Dutch colonies.
1865
Slavery abolished in the U.S. as a result of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution and the end of the Civil War.
1871
Gradual emancipation initiated in Brazil.
1873
Slavery abolished in Puerto Rico.
1886
Slavery abolished in Cuba.
1888
Slavery abolished in Brazil.