Historians and experts examine the American system of racialized slavery and the hypocrisy it relied on to function.

FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!

RELATED CONTENT

Historians and experts discuss the importance of the family unit in the lives of enslaved people.

In 1619, the Dutch introduced the first captured Africans to America, planting the seeds of a slavery system that evolved into a nightmare of abuse and cruelty that would ultimately divide the nation.

The slave auction was the epitome of the system's dehumanization.

Slavery and the Presidency

Professor Eric Foner discusses key people and events in the history of the Underground Railroad. He explains how slaves escaped to freedom with assistance from anti-slavery activists.