[willieroe]

Americans did not "institute" slavery.

Institute is commonly used by many as a fancy synonym for begin, but actually that's a secondary definition of the word institute. The primary definition of institute, according to my dictionary, is "to establish, organize, and set in operation." I would conclude that Jimer's use of the word institute is correct.

[stop_fascism]

It would be correct if after achieving independence from Great Britain, Americans suddenly instituted a new institution, slavery. However, that did not happen. Slavery had already been instituted in the new world by the English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.