Civil rights offenses, against people of color, dates back to 1619 when the first African were brought to the colony of Jamestown, Virginia on slave ships to help with the production of tobacco. Slavery spread throughout the colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries at a rapid pace thanks to the Atlantic slave trade also known as the transatlantic slave trade. During this period the British, Portuguese, and the French were responsible for bringing nine out of ten abducted Africans from Africa. Slaves were preferred over indentured servants because it was cheaper to buy African slaves to labor therefore farmers were able to make a larger profit. Because slaves were not seen as people or human beings but as personal property the majority was mistreated, discriminated against, beaten, and broken.

The Constitution of the United States enacted in 1789, and ratified to add the first ten amendments known …show more content…
However, the Emancipation Proclamation did not abolish slavery because it did not apply to the slaves who lived in the Union States in which slavery continued to be legal. The Emancipation Proclamation was not a law that was passed by Congress; however, President Lincoln used his presidential constitutional authority to free the slaves in the Confederate States. Once the slaves were free they were encouraged to join the Union and fight against the Confederacy to maintain their freedom. However, it was not until after the Civil War slavery was abolished when the 13th Amendment was ratified in 1865. However, when slavery was abolished in the United States, African American’s were faced with new challenges. Many were homeless and had no place to go therefore they were subjected to involuntary labor in order to