Mum Bet (Elizabeth Freeman) Lawsuit

In 1780, an enslaved woman named Mum Bet in Massachusetts overheard a reading of the new state constitution declaring that "all men are born free and equal." Realizing the law applied to her, she sued her master, Colonel John Ashley, for her freedom. The court ruled in her favor, effectively declaring slavery unconstitutional in Massachusetts. She was granted her liberty and awarded 30 shillings in compensation, later taking the name Elizabeth Freeman.

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