"The spirit of liberty that had been so invigorated by the events of the 1770s did manifest itself in a number of important measures affecting the status of America's slaves. In 1777 the constitution for the new state of Vermont completely abolished slavery, and Massachusetts soon followed suit. Many other Northern states, such as Pennsylvania in 1780, adopted legislation aimed at gradual emancipation during this period, although it was not until 1804 that New Jersey finally enacted a similar law. Not surprisingly, in the South anti-slavery gains were much more modest. But three Southern states, including Virginia in 1782, passed laws that made it possible for owners to manumit their slaves. It was the provisions of this law that Washington had to respect in formulating the manumission plan outlined in his will."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
"George Washington: His Troubles With Slavery" (12 June 2006), HistoryNet.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/American_Revolution
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
American Revolution
143 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by American Revolution →
Related Quotes
"Neither my father or mother, grandfather or grandmother, great grandfather or great grandmother, nor any other relati…"
"But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the w…"
"They are escaped convicts. His Majesty is fortunate to be rid of such rabble. Their true God is power."
"Not only do I pray for it, on the score of human dignity, but I can clearly forsee that nothing but the rooting out o…"
"A few more such victories would have shortly put an end to British dominion in America."
"For if our Trade may be taxed, why not our Lands? Why not the Produce of our Lands & everything we possess or make us…"
"Let us see delineated before us the true map of man. Let us hear the dignity of his nature, and the noble rank he hol…"
"As to the history of the revolution, my ideas may be peculiar, perhaps singular. What do we mean by the revolution? T…"
"Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all! By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall."
"Such a scene of sorrow and weeping I had never before witnessed.... We were then about to part form the man who had c…"