The tremendous accomplishments of African-Americans are made much more remarkable by the colossal obstacles they faced. Vermont was the first state to ban slavery. California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii never permitted slavery. Starting in 1625, New Jersey had a healthy slave trade. East Jersey and West Jersey were unified in 1704, and a “Slave Code” was established prohibiting slaves and free Blacks from owning property. The New Jersey legislature freed any slaves imported after 1776. But kept existing slaves. In 1800, there were still over 3,000 slaves there. Many states outlawed slavery after the Revolutionary War. New Jersey did not.