The Long Shadow Of Slavery

First African Slaves Jamestown, Va.'s John Rolfe (Pocahontas's widower) records the arrival of a Dutch ship bearing the Colonies first 20 African slaves.

1787

Three-Fifths Clause To determine the number of congressmen, the Constitution counts each slave as 3/5 of a person. Virginia slave price: _GCP_40.

circa 1804

Underground Railroad Abolitionists and free blacks respond to Fugitive Slave Act by ferrying runaways to Canada. All told, some 75,000 find freedom.

1808