1.3: Virginia Slave Acts (1660s)

A Guided Journey through Key Documents, 1865-present
Table of Contents
1.3 Virginia Slave Acts (1660s)
Historical Context
Guiding Questions
Document Text

  You don't have access to this content. Please try to log in with your institution. Sign In

Abstract

The excerpts below come from two dioerent acts (pieces of legislation) created by the Virginia Colony, which was ruled by England. At this point in time, England did not practice slavery, therefore it had no laws to govern how a slave system operated. Additionally, following in the tradition of many European nations, England embraced a patriarchal system, meaning a person’s inheritance and social status passed through the males of the family (typically from father to son).

Contents