The Louisiana state legislature passes a law that prohibits slaves from testifying against whites and free blacks, except in cases where free blacks are accused of trying to incite slave revolts.

Steven Smith purchases his freedom and goes on to become one of the country’s most successful black entrepreneurs, amassing a fortune in coal, railroad, stocks and real estate. An outspoken abolitionist, Smith is an important benefactor of political and social organizations benefiting African Americans.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Richard Allen who is named the church’s first bishop becomes the first formalized place of worship for African Americans.

Revolutionary War veteran Peter Salem died on this date. Salem fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill against the British.

Indiana joins the Union as the nineteenth state. Within the framework of their newly formed constitution, slavery is abolished and African Americans are disenfranchised.

On December 28, 1816, the American Colonization Society is formed to advocate and facilitate the emigration of black Americans to Africa. The Society, founded by white politicians, sees deportation as a means of circumventing America’s racial problems. The Society creates the African nation of Liberia for this purpose.