page_title: Emancipation Day
section_title: August 1
hierarchical_section_title: Emancipation Day / August 1
caption_attribution_description: Political Evolution of Central America and the Caribbean — in 1830.
context_page_description: Emancipation Day is observed in many former European colonies in the Caribbean and areas of the United States on various dates to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people of African descent.
  It is also observed in other areas in regard to the abolition of serfdom or other forms of involuntary servitude.
context_section_description: The Slavery Abolition Act 1833, which abolished slavery throughout the British Empire (with the exceptions "of the Territories in the Possession of the East India Company", the "Island of Ceylon" and "the Island of Saint Helena"; the exceptions were eliminated in 1843), came into force the following year, on 1 August 1834. 
  Only slaves below the age of six were freed. Enslaved people older than six years of age were redesignated as "apprentices" and required to work, 40 hours per week without pay, as part of compensation payment to their former owners. Full emancipation was finally achieved at midnight on 31 July 1838.
caption: Political history of the Caribbean and Central America, 1830
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