13. Slavery Was Only a Southern Institution
It’s a common misconception that slavery was unique to the South. In reality, slavery existed throughout the American colonies, including the North. Northern states and cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Boston were once home to enslaved people and active participants in the slave trade. Gradual abolition laws began appearing in some Northern states in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, but the process was slow. Full emancipation in the North took decades, reflecting the nation’s complicated relationship with slavery.
