Slavery in the United States was a system where millions of African people were forced to work without pay, primarily on plantations in the Southern states. This practice began in the early 1600s and continued until the Civil War in the 1860s. Enslaved individuals were treated as property, denied basic rights, and subjected to harsh conditions. The abolition of slavery was a significant turning point in American history, marked by the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the 13th Amendment in 1865, which officially ended the practice. The legacy of slavery still impacts American society today, influencing discussions about race, equality, and justice.