City of Boston (Massachusetts) found no constitutional impediment to segregated schools 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise, allowing slavery in the northern territories 1857 Dred Scott v. Constitution Virginia ratified on Decem1820 Missouri Compromise created rules for the expansion of slavery into western territories and prohibited slavery north of the 36° 30´ latitude except in Missouri 1841 Former President John Quincy Adams defended Africans aboard the Spanish ship Amistad 1850 Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 required citizens to assist in the return of escaped slaves to their owners 1850 Roberts v. Constitution is ratified by eleven states 1789 George Washington, a slave owner, inaugurated as the first president of the United States 1791 “Bill of Rights” added to U.S. Jennison (Massachusetts) relied on the Declaration of Rights, which ultimately led to the abolition of slavery in 1783 there 1785 New York passed legislation for the gradual emancipation of slaves 1788 U.S.
1640 Negro indentured servant John Punch ran away and received a life sentence in Virginia his white counterparts only received three-year sentences 1641 Massachusetts authorized slavery with legislation 1660 Virginia specifically punished indentured servants who ran away with Negroes slaves 1662 Virginia determined birthright of Negroes based on the status of the mother rather than the father, as had been the British custom for centuries 1680 Virginia enacted the first major slave codes 1705 Virginia relegated slaves, Indians, and mulattos to the status of property 1776 Declaration of Independence signed 1781 Quock Walker v.