What was life like for slaves after the Declaration of Independence?

After the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, life for most slaves in the newly-created United States of America did not change significantly. The Declaration proclaimed the colonies' freedom from British rule and emphasized the principles of liberty and equality, but these ideals were not extended to enslaved people. Slavery continued to be legally practiced and was deeply entrenched in American society, particularly in the Southern states.

Many slaves continued to live under harsh conditions, with little to no personal freedom. They were considered property of their owners and could be bought, sold, and separated from their families at the whim of their masters. They were subjected to physical, emotional, and sometimes sexual abuse. They had no legal rights and were not allowed to participate in the democratic process or access education.

Some slaves did fight in the Revolutionary War, with promises of freedom from both the British and American sides, although these promises were not always fulfilled. In the North, gradual emancipation began in the aftermath of the Revolution, leading to the eventual abolition of slavery in several states. However, the institution of slavery became even more deeply rooted in the Southern economy, particularly as cotton cultivation became more profitable with the invention of the cotton gin.

The issue of slavery would continue to be a major point of contention in the United States, culminating in the Civil War and the eventual abolition of slavery through the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865, nearly a century after the Declaration of Independence.