Congress Bans Slavery in U.S. Territories
Congress bans slavery in all U.S. territories, effectively overturning the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision that had claimed Black people could never be citizens. This legislative strike shatters the legal foundation of the pro-slavery ruling and signals a decisive shift toward emancipation just as the Civil War intensifies.
June 19, 1862
164 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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