Slavery in the U.S.

In 1833, Britain stopped slavery, then in late 1865 the United States did the same, making it illegal. They made it a crime to own slaves. In the United States, it stopped after the American Civil War. When the North won, all slaves were made free. When that happened, it was called "abolition of slavery". Slavery still exists today in some countries.

The first slaves arrived in Virginia around 1619, and slavery existed in America for the next 250 years. During the four centuries of the Atlantic slave trade, an estimated 11 million Africans were transported to North and South America. Slaves had no say in where they lived or who they worked for. They had no representation in government. Slaves could not own property and were not allowed to learn or be taught how to read and write.

The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 did not end slavery. Slavery continued in the states that were part of the Union forces. Slavery came to an end in 1865 when the 13th Amendment was ratified after the end of the Civil War.

"Abolition of slavery meant freedom from: the separation of families, rape of women slaves by slave masters, beatings (and other punishments), working without consent, working for someone without wages, lack of access to education, white supervision during religious worship and the denial of marriage."

Sources:

http://civilliberty.about.com/od/raceequalopportunity/ig/History-of-Black-Civil-Rights/The-Atlantic-Slave-Trade.htm - important information.
http://eh.net/encyclopedia/article/wahl.slavery.us

http://www.usnationalslaverymuseum.org/# - you can learn more about slavery in the museum.

http://www.uen.org/themepark/liberty/slavery.shtml
http://www.tellmewhyfacts.com/2007/11/when-was-slavery-abolished-in-us-and.html