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Scanned version of original bill on parchment paper. Includes act text in small cursive.
The act was passed by the ninth congress of the United States.

Act Prohibiting the Importation of Slaves passed.

1807

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The act was passed by the ninth congress of the United States.

The Act Prohibiting the Importation of Slaves bans the importation of enslaved African people into the United States. Taking effect in 1808, the act leads to the inflation of the price of enslaved people, and makes enslaved women’s reproduction even more invaluable. This will result in 50,000 enslaved Africans becoming the first "illegal aliens" in the U.S. In order to protect the profits of the U.S. system of enslavement, people enslaved by countries other than the U.S. are considered to be illegal.