Draft:An act to authorize the manumission of slaves

An act to authorize the manumission of slaves was legislation enacted in Virginia in 1782 allowing the manumission of slaves.[1]

Native Americans were enslaved. After 1619 when the first enslaved Africans were brought to Virginia, various laws targetting runaways, non-Christians, children of enslaved people, and protecting those who killed their slaves were passed.[2] In 1769 Thomas Jefferson and Col. Richard Bland proposed legislation allowing masters to manumit their slaves. It was rejected and Bland denounced.[3]

In 1786 a petition was made for the abolition of slavery. It was rejected unanimously. A counter petition to rescind the law allowing manumission was also defeated.[4]

Louisiana also had regulations for manumission.[5]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Assembly, General. "An act to authorize the manumission of slaves (1782)". Encyclopedia Virginia.
  2. ^ https://www.shsu.edu/~jll004/vabeachcourse_spring09/bacons_rebellion/slavelawincolonialvirginiatimeline.pdf
  3. ^ Onuf, Peter S. (October 29, 1993). Jeffersonian Legacies. University of Virginia Press. ISBN 978-0-8139-1463-3 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Society, Virginia Historical (October 29, 1891). "Collections of the Virginia Historical Society". The Society – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Stroud, George McDowell (October 29, 1827). "A Sketch of the Laws Relating to Slavery in the Several States of the United States of America". Kimber and Sharpless – via Google Books.