History · 3
Which country was the last major European power to abolish slavery?
Answer
Portugal
Portugal was among the last major European powers to officially abolish slavery, formally ending it in mainland Portugal in 1878 and in most colonial territories by 1858. However, slavery persisted in practice in Portuguese Angola until nearly the 1960s, making Portugal's de facto abolition among the latest in Europe. Ironically, Portugal had pioneered the European slave trade in Africa beginning in the 15th century, making its prolonged engagement with slavery one of the longest among European nations.
💡 Did you know?
Portugal was the first European nation to engage in the African slave trade (1440s) and nearly the last to abolish it officially (1878).
Other options people guess
- France
- Spain
- Belgium
Topics
- slavery
- portugal
- abolition
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