Several American Colonies Legalize Slavery
In 1664, several American colonies, including Virginia, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, and the Carolinas, enacted laws that mandated lifelong servitude for Black slaves without obtaining the King’s assent. These laws formalized the system of racialized chattel slavery, establishing that enslaved Black individuals would be subjected to perpetual servitude. The legal changes in these colonies marked a significant shift in the treatment of enslaved people and reinforced the racial and legal distinctions that would define the institution of slavery in the American colonies. The lack of royal assent emphasized the growing colonial independence in shaping their own legal frameworks concerning slavery.