Moret Law facts for kids
The Moret Law was an important law passed by Spain in 1870. It aimed to slowly end slavery in its colonies, especially in Cuba and Puerto Rico. The law was named after Segismundo Moret, who was a Spanish government minister at the time. It was a step towards freeing enslaved people, building on older ways some enslaved people had gained freedom.
History of the Law
By the mid-1800s, many countries had already ended slavery. After the United States Civil War in 1865, there was a lot of pressure from other nations for Spain to also end slavery. Even though slavery had mostly disappeared in Spain itself, it was still common in its Caribbean colonies.
The Moret Law was officially approved in Spain on July 4, 1870. It was first applied in Cuba and Puerto Rico, and then in other Spanish colonies. Key people who worked hard to make this law happen included Segismundo Moret, Roman Baldorioty de Castro, Luis Padial, and Julio Vizcarrondo. Spain also hoped that passing this law would help calm down movements in the colonies that wanted independence.
What the Law Did
The Moret Law did several important things:
- It granted freedom to children born to enslaved mothers after September 18, 1868. This date was chosen to honor a big political change that happened in Spain in 1869.
- It freed enslaved people who had served in the Spanish army, especially those who fought in the Ten Years' War in Cuba.
- It also freed enslaved people who were over 60 years old, and anyone who reached that age later on.
- Enslaved people owned by the Spanish government were also set free.
The Spanish government paid slave owners 125 pesetas for each person freed under the Moret Law. Slavery was completely abolished in Puerto Rico in 1873. For Cuba, it took a bit longer, but slavery was finally ended there without any exceptions in 1886.
See also
In Spanish: Ley Moret para niños
