American Independence: 1716-1793

1776

  • U.S. Declaration of Independence and Revolutionary War

  • Captive Africans forced labor was foundational to the development of the powerful U.S. economy

1791

  • Haitian Revolution

  • Largest and most successful slave rebellion in Western hemisphere Led by Toussaint l'Overture, the rebellion ended slavery and French colonial rule in Haiti

1793

  • Invention of the cotton gin increased demand for forced labor First fugitive slave act made it a federal crime to help enslaved people escape and endangered free Black people

  • Enslaved Africans exploited to grow u.s. economy

Melanie Allen