An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery, passed by the Pennsylvania legislature on 1 March 1780, was one of the first attempts by a government in the Wester

An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery, passed by the Pennsylvania legislature on 1 March 1780, was one of the first attempts by a government in the Western Hemisphere to begin an abolition of slavery [] http://www.ushistory.org/presidentshouse/history/gradual.htm http://www.ushistory.org/presidentshouse/history/gradual.htm Wasn't likely to be picked up by the southern states. Was part of the foundations of the Absolutionist movement and also the reason why Pennsylvania was a force for the end of slavery for the history of it's congressmen (For the most part).