1663
Maryland Legalizes Slavery
Maryland formally legalized slavery in 1663, joining Virginia in establishing life-long servitude based on race[3]. This law confirmed that slavery was a permanent institution in the colony, aligning Maryland with the broader colonial trend toward racialized chattel slavery[3]. The enactment reflects the …
Maryland, MD
Slavery & emancipation
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Maryland formally legalized slavery in 1663, joining Virginia in establishing life-long servitude based on race[3]. This law confirmed that slavery was a permanent institution in the colony, aligning Maryland with the broader colonial trend toward racialized chattel slavery[3]. The enactment reflects the spread of slavery as a legal and economic system across the Chesapeake region[3].