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Approximately 10–20% of the rural population of Carolingian Europe consisted of slaves

Slavery (also called thralldom ) is a form of forced labour in which people are considered to be the property of others . Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand wages.

By this definition there are approximately 27 million slaves in the world today, more than at any point in history and more than twice as many as all African slaves who survived being taken to the Americas in the Atlantic slave trade.[2][3][4]

the birth of slave children to slaves

Slavery was prominent presumably elsewhere in Africa long before the beginnings of the transatlantic slave trade.[69

Slavery in the United States

Slavery has existed, in one form or another, through the whole of recorded human history — as have, in various periods, movements to free large or distinct groups of slaves.

Abigail Adams was born in the North Parish Congregational Church in Weymouth, Massachusetts, on November 11, 1744, to the Rev. William Smith and Elizabeth (née Quincy) Smith. On her mother's side she was descended from the Quincy family, a well-known political family in the Massachusetts colony.

Abigail Adams by Benjamin Blythe, 1766

Although John Adams had known the Smith family since he was a boy (he and Abigail were third cousins[2]), he paid no attention to the delicate child nine years his junior.

Although Abigail's father approved of the match, her mother was appalled that a Smith would throw her life away on a country lawyer whose manners still reeked of the farm; eventually she gave in.

In 10 years she gave birth to six children: Abigail ("Nabby") (1765–1813) John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) Susanna Boylston (1768–1770) Charles (1770–1800) Thomas Boylston Adams (1772–1832) Elizabeth (stillborn in 1777)

In 1784 she and her daughter Nabby joined her husband and her eldest son, John Quincy, at her husband's diplomatic post in Paris.

Abigail Adams died on October 28, 1818, of typhoid fever, several years before her son became president.

she was the oldest daughter of Virginia planter John Dandridge

Martha Dandridge Custis, aged 27, and George Washington, aged nearly 27, married on January 6, 1759 at her estate, known as the White House,

Martha and George Washington had no children together, but they raised Martha's two surviving children

more than tripling the size of Mount Vernon

was the wife of George Washington

Seven of the 9 slaves that President Washington brought to Philadelphia (the national capital, 1790–1800) to work in the executive mansion were "dowers". Pennsylvania had begun an abolition of slavery in 1780, but non-residents were allowed to hold slaves in the state for up to 6 months.

1st First Lady of the United States In office April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797 Succeeded by Abigail Adams Born June 2, 1731(1731-06-02) Chestnut Grove, New Kent County, Virginia, U.S. Died May 22, 1802 (aged 70) Mount Vernon, Virginia, U.S. Spouse(s) Daniel Parke Custis (1750-1757) George Washington (1759-1799) Relations John Dandridge and Frances Jones Children Daniel Parke Custis, Jr., Frances Custis, John Parke "Jacky" Custis, Martha Parke "Patsy Custis Occupation First Lady of the United States Religion Anglican Signature

eldest brother.[

Lawrence

Washington worked as a surveyor

George Washington

The Continental Congress appointed Washington commander-in-chief of the American revolutionary forces in 1775. The following year, he forced the British out of Boston, lost New York City, and crossed the Delaware River in New Jersey, defeating the surprised enemy units later that year. Because

He presided over the Philadelphia Convention that drafted the United States Constitution in 1787 because of general dissatisfaction with the Articles of Confederation. Washington became President of the United States in 1789 and established many of the customs and usages of the new government's executive department. He sought to create a nation capable of surviving in a world torn asunder by war between Britain and France. His unilateral Proclamation of Neutrality of 1793 provided a basis for avoiding any involvement in foreign conflicts. He supported plans to build a strong central government by funding the national debt, implementing an effective tax system, and creating a national bank. Washington avoided the temptation of war and a decade of peace with Britain began with the Jay Treaty in 1795;

Washington died in 1799. Henry Lee, delivering the funeral oration, declared Washington "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen".[11] Historical scholars consistently rank him as one of the greatest United States presidents.

George Washington had a close relationship with his nephew and heir Bushrod Washington, son of George's younger brother John Augustine Washington.

A popular myth is that he wore a wig, as was the fashion among some at the time. Washington did not wear a wig; instead, he powdered his hair,

Washington lived an aristocratic lifestyle—fox hunting was a favorite leisure activity.

Washington's marriage to Martha, a wealthy widow, greatly increased his property holdings and social standing. He acquired one-third of the 18,000 acre (73 km²) Custis estate upon his marriage, and managed the remainder on behalf of Martha's children

Washington was then appointed Major General and elected by Congress to be Commander-in-chief.

By the time the Declaration of Independence was adopted in July 1776, the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain had been at war for more than a year. Relations between the colonies and the mother country had been deteriorating since the end of the Seven Years' War in 1763. The war had plunged the British government deep into debt, and so Parliament enacted a series of measures to increase tax revenue from the colonies. Parliament believed that these acts, such as the Stamp Act of 1765 and the Townshend Acts of 1767, were a legitimate means of having the colonies pay their fair share of the costs to keep the colonies in the British Empire.[6]

George Washington