A Slow Beginning To The End

An “Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery” in the state of New York was passed on March 29th 1799.

Governor John Jay a prominent leader in the antislavery movement, passed an emancipation law which would abolish slavery through a gradual manumission. Freedom would be granted only to the children of slaves who served their Mother’s master till the age of 25 for women and 28 for men. It made the exportation of slaves illegal. This law did not however speak of any civil rights for the freed slave. Although passed on March 29th 1799, it didn’t go into effect until July 4th of that year. New York State would not end slavery until 1827.