# Slavery abolished in French colonies (1794)

URL: https://history-france.com/timeline/1794-slavery-abolished-in-french-colonies
Location: French colonies

The Convention abolished slavery across French territories, though Napoleon later restored it. Within the broader French Revolution period, The Revolution dismantled legal privilege and absolute monarchy, declared new rights and created a republic. War, popular mobilization, civil conflict and political terror repeatedly transformed the revolutionary state. At this point in the timeline, the relevant governing authority is National Convention (Collective head of the French Republic). Slavery abolished in French colonies mattered because it changed the legal or constitutional framework within which French institutions and citizens operated. The event is positioned here so visitors can read it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion, culture and France’s wider international setting.

## Why it matters
Slavery abolished in French colonies mattered because it changed the legal or constitutional framework within which French institutions and citizens operated.

Ruler at the time: [National Convention](https://history-france.com/rulers/national-convention)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Slavery abolished in French colonies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Slavery+abolished+in+French+colonies&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Slavery abolished in French colonies](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Slavery+abolished+in+French+colonies)
- [Vie-publique — French institutions and history](https://www.vie-publique.fr/)