[Ditto]

"The first state to legalize enslaving Africans was Massachusetts."
Correction. Make that the first American colony.

States is correct. In 1780, 4 years after the Declaration of Independence, while the Revolution was still being fought, both Massachusetts and Pennsylvania passed legislation ending slavery in their "States." They were the first "Governments" in the world to do so -- 50 years before the British Parliament acted.

As Colonies under Royal Governors, they would not have been permitted to end slavery.

[RegulatorCountry]

"As Colonies under Royal Governors, they would not have been permitted to end slavery."

LOL. Who was talking about ENDING it, in Massachusetts, the first colony to legalize slavery in 1638? Nice try. The NC state constitution recognized the incompatibility of the institution of slavery with the ideals of liberty, in 1792. What do you make of that?

[4CJ]

They were the first "Governments" in the world to do so -- 50 years before the British Parliament acted. ... As Colonies under Royal Governors, they would not have been permitted to end slavery.

Nope. The colonial Georgia government under Oglethorpe abolished slavery circa 1745.

[mac_truck]

In 1780, 4 years after the Declaration of Independence, while the Revolution was still being fought, both Massachusetts and Pennsylvania passed legislation ending slavery in their "States." They were the first "Governments" in the world to do so -- 50 years before the British Parliament acted.

Worth repeating.