France Abolished Slavery in 1794

On February 4, 1794, French legislators decreed the abolition of slavery in all French colonies. The decree granted immediate and unconditional freedom to enslaved people.

It also extended full French citizenship to formerly enslaved people without compensating slave owners. Two men of African descent joined the National Convention as voting members.

Historian Jeremy D. Popkin notes debates about slavery in France began decades before the 1789 revolution.

Figures like Brissot and Condorcet advocated for abolition, though many faced personal consequences for their views. Despite the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man, French legislators consistently defended slavery until 1794.

The decision to abolish slavery arrived after roughly two and a half years of insurrection in Saint-Domingue, now Haiti. This large colony saw much of its enslaved population already living freely. The article indicates further research is needed to fully understand these debates and the opposition they faced.