Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Virginia Slave Code of 1705

A member of the studio audience sent this to me a while back. I thought I would share it.

It is from the Virginia Slave Code of 1705.

And also be it enacted, by the authority aforesiad, and it is hereby enacted, That all servants imported and brought into this country, by sea or land, who were not christians in their native country, (except Turks and Moors in amity with her majesty, and others that can make due proof of their being free in England, or any other christian country, before they were shipped, in order to transporation hither) shall be accounted and be slaves, and as such be here bought and sold notwithtanding a conversion to christianity afterwards…

Please note that the law does not enslave blacks but those "who were not Christians in their native Country".

Virginia's Slave Code (1705)

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This Virginia Slave Code also stated that the non-christian slaves would be classified as real estate.

Pak Idrus said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
NeilE said...

It's good to know that we've made some progress since the 'good old days' : )

Chelsea said...

I'm curious if you have been following the government shutdown stories and what your opinions are about it.