Abolitionist Policy in Antioquia State, Colombia (1812-1816)

The separatists of the Kingdom of New Granada (which enjoyed de facto independence from the Crown of Castile between 1810 and 1816) were well aware of the contradiction of maintaining slavery under the regime of freedom that they sought to build. In the region of Antioquia, this paradox was partially resolved by adopting several laws aimed at abolishing servitude, gradually but without excessive delays. This paper will analyse both the circumstances that allowed for the abolitionist question to be addressed and the actual measures implemented by local authorities, while also casting light on a much less well-known aspect : the enforcement of these measures and their social and political consequences.