The Abolitionist Movement started in the United States to end the slave trade and emancipate slaves.  The antislavery sentiments were widespread by the late 18th century.  American abolitionism began very early, well before the United States was founded as a nation.

In 1860, the presidential victory of Abraham Lincoln who opposed the spread of slavery to the Western United States marked a turning point in the movement.  In 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves held in the Confederate States; the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1865) prohibited slavery throughout the country.  As a result of the abolitionist movement, slavery was abolished in most of Latin America during the Independence Wars (1810–1822).