1807day.year
The U.S. Congress passes the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves, disallowing the importation of new slaves into the country.
In 1807, the U.S. Congress enacts the Act Prohibiting the Importation of Slaves, halting the transatlantic slave trade to the young nation.
Congress passes the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves, which takes effect in 1808 and bars the legal entry of enslaved people.
The legislation reflects growing anti-slave sentiments and international pressure to end the trade.
However, it does not abolish slavery itself, allowing domestic trafficking to continue.
Enforcement challenges arise along vast coastlines, leading to smuggling and legal ambiguities.
The act marks a significant step in America's complex path toward emancipation and civil rights.
1807
U.S. Congress
Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves
slaves
1859day.year
The two-day Great Slave Auction, once thought to be the largest such auction in United States history, begins.
In 1859, the Great Slave Auction in Savannah, Georgia, begins, remembered as one of the largest sales of enslaved people in U.S. history.
The two-day event in Savannah sees hundreds of enslaved men, women, and children offered for sale by the estate of Pierce Butler.
It reflects the brutal reality of the domestic slave trade and its deep entrenchment in Southern economy.
Auction records highlight family separations and the commodification of human lives.
News of the auction reaches Northern abolitionists, fueling anti-slavery campaigns.
The Great Slave Auction stands as a grim milestone in America's struggle with slavery and its legacies.
1859
Great Slave Auction
United States
1867day.year
The U.S. Congress passes the first Reconstruction Act.
In 1867, U.S. Congress passes the first Reconstruction Act, setting the framework for reintegrating Southern states after the Civil War.
The Reconstruction Act of 1867 divides the former Confederacy into five military districts under Union control.
It requires Southern states to draft new constitutions guaranteeing African American male suffrage.
The act reflects Radical Republican efforts to secure civil and political rights for freedmen.
It also stipulates ratification of the 14th Amendment as a condition for readmission to Congress.
This legislation shapes the turbulent post-war era and lays groundwork for future civil rights advances.
1867
Reconstruction Act
1903day.year
In New York City the Martha Washington Hotel opens, becoming the first hotel exclusively for women.
The Martha Washington Hotel opens in New York City as the first hotel exclusively for women.
In 1903, New York City welcomed the Martha Washington Hotel, the world's first hotel designed exclusively to serve women travelers and workers. Named after America's first First Lady, it offered secure lodging, dining, and social spaces at a time when unaccompanied women faced societal scrutiny and safety concerns. The establishment provided affordable rooms, lecture halls, and recreational areas, fostering a supportive community for professional and independent women. Its launch reflected the Progressive Era's evolving attitudes toward women's independence and mobility. The hotel's success inspired similar institutions nationwide and marked a milestone in women's social history.
1903
Martha Washington Hotel