Cymraeg

The Welsh and American Slavery

Abolitionists

The Long Battle

Photo of the declaration that released the Slaves

The declaration that
released the Slaves
in the USA, 1863

Lincoln signed the "Emancipation Proclamation" on 22nd September 1862 and it came into force on the first day of 1863. (Of course, it did not come into full force until the end of the Civil War in 1865). It was the end of a very long battle for the rights of the Africans in America.

Back in April 1688 four Quakers had submitted a petition to their brothers in the faith in Germantown, Pennsylvania "against the traffick of men-body". This was the first declaration of its kind, but although the Quakers had led the way, another 70 years were to elapse before the Quakers of Pennsylvania agreed to prohibit their members from being involved in the slave trade or to keep slaves, in 1758.

A black soldier in
the Union army

Another hundred years and more elapsed before success was achieved throughout the United States. In this section can be found the history of some of the Welsh people who raised their voices against slavery in the USA and beyond.