The first African slaves were brought to New England in the early 1600s. These slaves were mostly used as domestic servants or farm laborers. However, as the economy of New England grew, so did the demand for slave labor. By the mid-1700s, there were over 5,000 slaves in New England.
The majority of slaves in New England were of African descent, but there were also some Native American slaves. Native American slaves were often captured during wars between the English colonists and the Native American tribes.
Slavery was finally abolished in all of the New England colonies by the early 1800s. However, the legacy of slavery continues to impact the region today.