How Long Did It Take for the U.S. to Free Enslaved People?
The United States declared independence in 1776 , proclaiming ideals of liberty and justice. However, these ideals did not apply to everyone—enslaved people, particularly Black Americans, remained in bondage for nearly a century after the Revolution . The journey toward true freedom was long, filled with broken promises, political compromises, and struggles for justice. Here’s how long it actually took: The Revolutionary War (1775–1783) & the First Promises of Freedom During the war, both the British and American forces offered enslaved people a path to freedom. The British, through Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation (1775) , promised freedom to enslaved people who escaped and fought for them. Thousands fled to join British forces, and after the war, many were evacuated to Canada, the Caribbean, or Sierra Leone . Some states in the North also took early steps toward abolition: Vermont (1777) became the first state to ban slavery outright . Pennsylvania (1780) passed a gradual eman...