America:
- The first African slaves were brought to the New World in 1619 when a Dutch ship arrived in Jamestown, Virginia. These slaves were initially treated as indentured servants, but their status gradually changed to perpetual slavery.
- The institution of slavery grew in the American South, where it became an integral part of the economy, especially in the agricultural sector. Slavery was legal in the United States until the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865, which abolished slavery.
Britain:
- Slavery in Britain has its roots in the transatlantic slave trade, which began in the 16th century. British merchants and traders were actively involved in the transportation and sale of African slaves to colonies in the Caribbean and the Americas.
- However, slavery was not practiced in Britain itself on a large scale. It was mostly confined to African and Asian servants who were brought to Britain as domestic workers or personal servants.
- Britain took significant steps to abolish slavery in the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1772, the Somerset v. Stewart case established that slavery was not recognized under English common law. Finally, the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 led to the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire.
It's important to note that the history of slavery is multifaceted, and there were variations in the experiences of enslaved individuals in different regions and time periods.