1805 - Haiti Abolishes Slavery

On May 20, 1805, Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines of Haiti issued Haiti\’s second constitution, reaffirming the total abolition of slavery. This historic moment came just one year after Haiti declared independence from France in 1804, becoming the first Black republic in the world. The 1805 constitution not only outlawed slavery but also declared all citizens as “Black,” uniting the population under a single national identity regardless of prior racial classification. This bold stance was revolutionary at the time and served as a beacon of hope and resistance to enslaved people across the Americas. Dessalines’ constitution positioned Haiti as a symbol of anti-colonial defiance and human dignity. May 20 marks a critical point in the global fight against slavery and racial hierarchy, with Haiti’s leadership laying the foundation for Black sovereignty and international Black solidarity. Today, May 20 is a key date in Pan-African and abolitionist history.