USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -An act of Congress passed in 1800 made it illegal for Americans to engage in the slave trade between nations, and gave U.S. authorities the right to seize slave ships which were caught transporting slaves and confiscate their cargo. Then the “Act Prohibiting the Importation of Slaves” took effect in 1808.

Detailed explanation-2: -In 1807, the U.S. Congress passed a statute prohibiting the importation of slaves as of the first constitutionally-allowable moment of January 1, 1808.

Detailed explanation-3: -But first, 200 years ago on January 1st, 1808, the U.S. officially banned the importation of slaves.

Detailed explanation-4: -On the first day of January, 1808, a new Federal law made it illegal to import captive people from Africa into the United States. This date marks the end-the permanent, legal closure-of the trans-Atlantic slave trade into our country.

Detailed explanation-5: -Northern states were against the continued importation of slaves, and the Southern states were for continued importation. The agreed-upon compromise, reflected in Article 1, Section 9, Clause 1, of the Constitution, prevented Congress from outlawing the importation of slaves until 1808.