How did new york the colony feel about slavery?

New York (then New Netherland) was one of the first colonies in North America to legalize slavery. In 1626, the Dutch West India Company imported the first African slaves into the colony. These slaves were used primarily as laborers on farms and plantations. In 1664, the English took control of New Netherland and renamed it New York. The English continued to import slaves, and by the end of the 17th century, there were over 4,000 slaves in the colony.

The institution of slavery was supported by the majority of white New Yorkers. They argued that slavery was necessary for the economic prosperity of the colony. They also believed that Africans were inferior to whites and that slavery was a way to civilize them.

There were, however, some people in New York who opposed slavery. These people included religious leaders, intellectuals, and free blacks. They argued that slavery was morally wrong and that it violated the principles of Christianity. They also pointed out that slavery was not economically necessary and that the colony could prosper without it.

The debate over slavery in New York continued throughout the 18th century. In 1799, the state legislature passed a gradual emancipation law that would have eventually ended slavery in the state. However, the law was repealed by a referendum vote in 1801. In 1827, the legislature passed a new emancipation law that gradually freed the remaining slaves in the state. The last slaves in New York were freed in 1841.

The institution of slavery had a profound impact on New York. It shaped the state's economy, politics, and social structure. It also left a legacy of racism and discrimination that continues to this day.