I
n 1720, Pierre Duque, commandant at Kaskaskia, wrote from the 17-year – old town,” a hundred Negroes would be marvelous for this settlement.” This is the first mention of using African slaves in the Illinois country (Eckberg, 145) and so that begins the history of African American slavery in Illinois. It would last for years under French, British and American rule. Slaves in Illinois were freed by a Process called “gradual emancipation”. It did not end until Illinois Finally ratified a free Constitution in 1848.