- Slaves were considered property and had no legal rights. They could not own property, make contracts, or testify in court.
- Slaves were often beaten, tortured, and sexually abused. They were also denied basic necessities like food, clothing, and shelter.
- Slave families were often torn apart when slaves were sold to different owners. Children were often sold away from their parents, and husbands and wives were separated.
- Slavery was legal in the Southern United States and the District of Columbia. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 required all citizens to help return escaped slaves to their owners, even if they were in a free state.
1890s
- Slavery had been abolished in the United States since the end of the Civil War in 1865. However, the legacy of slavery continued to affect the lives of African Americans in the United States.
- African Americans faced discrimination in all aspects of life, including employment, housing, education, and voting. They were also subjected to violence and intimidation by white supremacists.
- The Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation, were in place in many states. These laws made it difficult for African Americans to exercise their rights and opportunities.
- African Americans began to organize and fight for their civil rights in the late 1800s. This movement would eventually lead to the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, which would finally bring an end to legal segregation and discrimination in the United States.