Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves

The Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves was an act of Congress which prohibited the African slave trade by heavy pecuniary and corporal penalties, passed on March 2, 1807.

This act was passed nearly a year in advance of the constitutionally prescribed year of 1808 and took effect January 1st, 1808. Article 1 section 9 states that: "The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person."