Religion and slavery

• 1492: Columbus leads the way: Enslavement, slaughter, and land theft

• 1526: First Africans likely brought as slaves to North America revolt

• 1641: Massachusetts gives legal green light to slavery

• 1652: Rhode Island slavery ban is not enforced

• 1669: Virginia makes killing enslaved people legal

• 1676: Rebellion spurs imports of enslaved Africans

• 1676: Executions portend broad assault on Indigenous peoples

• 1676: Colonists trade Native captives for enslaved Africans

• 1688: Anti-slavery petition divides Quakers

• 1698: Colonial merchants gain right to trade Africans

• 1700: Puritans debate: Is slavery Christian?

• 1705: Slave Codes deny rights, legalize barbarity

• 1737: Benjamin Lay: Radical Quaker voice for abolition

• 1738: First free Black town in North America founded

• 1761: Jupiter Hammon: First published Black male poet

• 1765: Mass deaths are turning point for slave trader

• 1771: Quaker abolitionist educates, inspires others

• 1775: First American abolition society founded

• 1780: Black residents help win first abolition law

• 1788: Massachusetts bans slave trades, expels "outsiders"

• 1791: Largest private emancipation in U.S. history

• 1811: Lewis Hayden: Leading abolitionist, state politician

• 1816: "Fantasy" scheme to preserve U.S. slavery

• 1817-1819: Anti-slavery papers are movement pioneers

• 1823: Supreme Court legitimizes theft of Native lands

• 1825: March Haynes: Freedom guide, key Union spy

• 1826: John Greenleaf Whittier: Abolitionist poet, editor

• 1829: Walker's Appeal: A rallying cry for Black Americans

• 1830: Black groups expand free produce movement

• 1830: Abolitionists lead church desegregation effort

• 1833: Native leader designates "Days of Mourning" to mark colonists' arrival

• 1834: White mobs riot, rampage in two cities

• 1836-1837: Pro-slavery mobs kill abolitionist publishers

• 1837: Women's anti-slavery efforts transform town

• 1838: Mob torches hall after attacking abolitionists

• 1841: First history of Black people in U.S. published

• 1846: After defeat, Mexico ceded 55% of its land to U.S.

• 1850-1860: Underground Railroad helps thousands secure freedom

• 1851: Sojourner Truth: Activist for abolition, women's rights, prison reform

• 1852: Uncle Tom's Cabin is praised, vilified

• 1855: New party backs armed resistance to slavery

• 1861: Freedom order revoked to keep states in Union

• 1862: Clergymen urge general emancipation edict

• 1863: Tour raises funds for freedmen schools