Bill of Sale for African-American Slaves Bought from Robert Elam by Daniel Morrison, New Orleans, Louisiana, February 19, 1861

This February 1861 document records the sale of four slaves in Louisiana. The state had recently seceded--note that "United States of America" is crossed out--and slaveholders continued to buy and sell African Americans. War between Union (free) and Confederate (slave) states erupted a few months later. A Union victory and the passage of the 13th Amendment finally led to the abolition of slavery.