Final answer:
The Massachusetts slave law of 1641, part of the Massachusetts Body of Liberties, legally established conditions under which slavery could exist in the colony. This law allowed for the keeping of individuals in bondage as either war captives or voluntary servants, setting a precedent for future slave legislation in the region.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Massachusetts slave law of 1641, known as the Massachusetts Body of Liberties, was among the earliest legal codifications of slavery in North America. The law stipulated that slavery was permissible in the context of lawful captives taken in just wars, or those 'strangers' that sold themselves or were sold into servitude.
It notably carved out an exemption in Massachusetts, allowing individuals to be held in bondage under specific conditions, contrasting with the idea that there would never be bondage in the colony. This legislation laid the groundwork for the more pervasive system of chattel slavery that developed across the colonies and lasted until the Civil War.
The Massachusetts Body of Liberties clarified that those enslaved under these terms should have the liberties that 'the law of god established in Israel concerning such persons,' referring to biblical precedents for servitude. It also set a precedent for subsequent slave laws that would evolve to be more restrictive and severe over time, affecting not just African slaves but also Native Americans.
Although initially, the number of slaves in Massachusetts was small, the slave population began to grow, doubling between 1677 and 1710. These conditions remained until the gradual undermining of slavery in Massachusetts post-1780 constitution, through a series of court decisions.