Question

Which case marked the end of slavery in Massachusetts?

Select the best answer from the choices provided.
A. Prince Hall led some Massachusetts enslaved African Americans to petition the colony’s legislature for freedom.
B. Lawyers sued and won freedom for Elizabeth Freeman.
C. Seven free African Americans in Massachusetts petitioned and won the right to vote.
D. Quock Walker successfully sued his owner for freedom and damages after he was brutally beaten.

Answer 1

The end of slavery in Massachusetts was marked by Quock Walker's successful lawsuit for freedom and damages, aligning with the Massachusetts Constitution that affirmed equality and freedom for all.

Step-by-step explanation:

The case that marked the end of slavery in Massachusetts was Quock Walker's successful suit for freedom and damages after he was brutally beaten, making the correct answer D. This series of decisions in the 1780s significantly undermined slavery in Massachusetts after Walker invoked the new Massachusetts Constitution that declared all men were born free and equal. His legal victory against his owner was pivotal in influencing the state's courts to rule that slavery was inconsistent with the state’s new constitution.