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The United States Congress could not touch the slave trade until 1808, as stated in the U.S. Constitution's Slave Trade Clause. This clause prohibited Congress from banning the importation of slaves until that year.
The Commerce Compromises stated that Congress could not ban the importation of slaves until 1808, but could impose a tax on each slave imported. Additionally, domestic slave trade between states was not regulated by the federal government.
The transatlantic slave trade was officially outlawed in the early 19th century. The United States banned the importation of slaves in 1808, and Britain passed the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act in 1807. However, the practice of slavery itself continued in many places until the mid-19th century.
Kidnapping of African slaves by European slave traders began when the transatlantic slave trade started in the 15th century. This practice was widespread during the era of colonization in the Americas until the abolition of the slave trade in the 19th century.
The US Constitution allowed the international slave trade to continue until January 1, 1808. After this date, the importation of slaves into the United States was prohibited.
Denmark was the first country to officially abolish the slave trade in 1792, although slavery was not fully abolished in Danish colonies until 1848.