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An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery, March 1, 1780

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An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery, March 1, 1780

Grade Levels

10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade

Course, Subject

Civics and Government, History
Related Academic Standards
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  • Big Ideas
    Adherence to the rule of law validates an individual’s responsibility to society.
    Citizens understand their rights and practice their responsibilities in a vibrant society.
    Engaged citizens understand the workings of government and use historic precedents in shaping thought and action.
    The history of the Commonwealth continues to influence Pennsylvanians today, and has impacted the United States and the rest of the world.
    The history of the United States continues to influence its citizens, and has impacted the rest of the world.
    World history continues to influence Pennsylvanians, citizens of the United States, and individuals throughout the world today.
  • Concepts
    Appropriate connections to the United States and/or contemporary issues make world history more relevant to students in Pennsylvania.
    Biography explores the life of an individual.
    Biography is a historical construct used to reveal positive and/or negative influences an individual can have on civilization.
    Biography is a historical construct used to reveal positive and/or negative influences an individual can have on Pennsylvania’s society.
    Biography is a historical construct used to reveal positive and/or negative influences an individual can have on the United States society.
    Biography is a historical construct used to reveal positive and/or negative influences an individual can have on world history.
    Conflict and cooperation among social groups, organizations, and nation-states are critical to comprehending past cultures throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
    Conflict and cooperation among social groups, organizations, and nation-states are critical to comprehending societies throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
    Conflict and cooperation among social groups, organizations, and nation-states are critical to comprehending society in the Pennsylvania.
    Conflict and cooperation among social groups, organizations, and nation-states are critical to comprehending society in the Pennsylvania. Domestic instability, ethnic and racial relations, labor relation, immigration, and wars and revolutions are examples of social disagreement and collaboration.
    Conflict and cooperation among social groups, organizations, and nation-states are critical to comprehending society in the United States. Domestic instability, ethnic and racial relations, labor relation, immigration, and wars and revolutions are examples of social disagreement and collaboration.
    Conflict and cooperation among social groups, organizations, and nation-states are critical to comprehending the American society.
    Documents and principles define the procedures, operations and rules for the functioning of government and society.
    Human organizations work to socialize members and, even though there is a constancy of purpose, changes occur over time.
    Long-term continuities and discontinuities in the structures of Pennsylvania culture provide vital contributions to contemporary issues.
    Long-term continuities and discontinuities in the structures of Pennsylvania society provide vital contributions to contemporary issues. Belief systems and religion, commerce and industry, innovations, settlement patterns, social organization, transportation and trade, and equality are examples continuity and change.
    Long-term continuities and discontinuities in the structures of United States culture provide vital contributions to contemporary issues.
    Long-term continuities and discontinuities in the structures of United States society provide vital contributions to contemporary issues. Belief systems and religion, commerce and industry, innovations, settlement patterns, social organization, transportation and trade, and equality are examples continuity and change.
    Social entities clash over disagreement and assist each other when advantageous.
    Social entities throughout the world clash over disagreement and assist each other when advantageous.
    Society can only exist and thrive if there is confidence in the rule of law and its authority. Failure to meet the obligations of the rule of law must entail appropriate consequences.
    State and local history can offer an individual judicious understanding about one’s self in the dimensions of time and space.
    State and local history can offer an individual, discerning judgment in public and personal life, supply examples for living, and thinking about one’s self in the dimensions of time and space.
    Textual evidence, material artifacts, the built environment, and historic sites are central to understanding the history of Pennsylvania.
    Textual evidence, material artifacts, the built environment, and historic sites are central to understanding United States history.
    The rights and civil liberties granted by the Constitutions of the United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are to be safeguarded by both governments and citizens.
    United States history can offer an individual discerning judgment in public and personal life, supply examples for living, and thinking about one’s self in the dimensions of time and space.
    United States history can offer an individual judicious understanding about one’s self in the dimensions of time and space.
    World history can offer an individual discerning judgment in public and personal life, supply examples for living, and thinking about one’s self in the dimensions of time and space.
    World history can offer an individual judicious understanding about one’s self in the dimensions of time and space.
    World history looks for common patterns that emerge across all cultures.
    World history looks for common patterns that emerge across all cultures. Long-term continuities and discontinuities in the structures of societies provide vital contributions to contemporary issues.
  • Competencies
    Analyze a primary source for accuracy and bias and connect it to a time and place in Pennsylvania.
    Analyze a primary source for accuracy and bias and connect it to a time and place in United States history.
    Analyze changes in how rights and responsibilities are interpreted.
    Apply the theme of continuity and change in Pennsylvania history and relate the benefits and drawbacks of your example.
    Apply the theme of continuity and change in United States history and relate the benefits and drawbacks of your example.
    Care for other citizens in the community.
    Construct a biography of a non-American and generate conclusions regarding his/her qualities and limitations.
    Construct a biography of a Pennsylvanian and generate conclusions regarding his/her qualities and limitations.
    Construct a biography of an American and generate conclusions regarding his/her qualities and limitations.
    Follow rules.
    Help others in the community.
    Identify and analyze where a household's tax obligations are bound at the local, state, and national levels.
    Identify and analyze where a household's tax obligations are used at the local, state, and national levels
    Identify areas of volunteer opportunities in the community (how is the volunteerism being conducted?).
    Participate in citizenship simulations such as mock trials, campaigns, and elections.
    Participate in student government.
    Summarize how conflict and compromise in Pennsylvania history impact contemporary society.
    Summarize how conflict and compromise in United States history impact contemporary society.
    Summarize how conflict and compromise in world history impact contemporary society.
    Synthesize a rationale for the study of a non-American individual in world history.
    Synthesize a rationale for the study of individuals in Pennsylvania history.
    Synthesize a rationale for the study of individuals in United States history.
    Teach younger community citizens.

Rationale

This act forwarded the ideal of abolition though it did not immediately free all slaves.  Between 1790 and 1800, the number of slaves dropped from 3,737 to 1,706 and by 1,810 to 795, respectively. In 1840, there still were 64 slaves in the state, but by 1850 there were none.

Description

This first such legislative enactment in America was drafted by a committee of Revolutionary Pennsylvania's new political leaders and probably guided through the Assembly by George Bryan. The act begins with an expression of gratitude for deliverance from the "tyranny of Great Britain" and for the opportunity to "extend a portion of that freedom to others." It specified that "every Negro and Mulatto child born within the State after the passing of the Act (1780) would be free upon reaching age twenty-eight."

Content Provider

This document has been provided courtesy of the Pennsylvania State Archives, an agency of the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission.

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