Slavery is a system where people are forced to work for others without any freedom or payment. Those who are enslaved, often called slaves, are treated as property and have no control over their lives. This practice has existed in many cultures throughout history, causing immense suffering and injustice. In the United States, slavery was a significant part of the economy, especially in the Southern states, where enslaved people worked on plantations. The fight against slavery led to the Civil War and eventually to the abolition of slavery, but its effects are still felt today in various forms of inequality and discrimination.