Slave Trade

The importation of negro slaves into the American colonies began with the year 1619, when a Dutch ve el brought a cargo of slaves into James River. In 1713, by the Treaty of Utrecht, Great Britain obtained the contract for supplying slaves to the Spanish West Indies. This stimulated the general slave trade. Some colonies desired to prohibit the importation of slaves, but Great Britain forced it upon them. Virginia pa ed several such acts, but they were vetoed. Pennsylvania pa ed bills prohibiting slave trading in 1712, 1714 and 1717, but they were vetoed. Ma achusetts pa ed a similar bill in 1774, which was vetoed. It was prohibited by Rhode Island in 1774, by Connecticut the same year and by the non-importation covenant of the colonies October 24, 1774. It was forbidden by nearly all the States during the Revolution. The slave trade question was an important one in the formation of the Constitution. The Southern States, except Virginia and Maryland, demanded it, hence it was compromised by allowing Congre to prohibit it after 1808. The act of March 22, 1794, prohibited the carrying of slaves by American citizens from one foreign country to another. That of May 10, 1800, allowed United States warships to seize ve els engaged in such traffic. That of February 28, 1803, prohibited the introduction of slaves into States which had forbidden slavery. In 1808 the importation of slaves into the United States was forbidden. The acts of April 20, 1818, and March 3, 1819, authorized the President to send cruisers to Africa to stop the slave trade. Various projects for renewing the trade arose in the fifties. It was in reality never given up until 1865. No restrictions were placed upon domestic slave trading.