1652 – Rhode Island Passes First Colonial Law Against Perpetual Slavery

On May 18, 1652, Rhode Island passed what is considered the first anti-slavery law in colonial America, attempting to limit servitude to a maximum of 10 years for both Black and white individuals. Although the law was poorly enforced and largely ignored, its passage marked a notable early attempt to push back against the system of perpetual slavery that was taking hold across the colonies. The legislation reflects the complex history of slavery in New England, where economic profit often overrode moral resistance. For African Americans, this date is a reminder of how early the debate over human freedom began in what would become the United States. While the law failed to produce immediate change, it planted seeds for later abolitionist efforts. Remembering May 18 helps us understand how anti-slavery thought had roots even during the nation’s earliest colonial period, foreshadowing centuries of struggle for emancipation and civil rights.