<human>: What do I need to know about the history of slavery in the United States?
<bot>: The history of slavery in the United States is complex and multifaceted. It began as early as 1619 when the first Africans were brought into the country as slaves, but it wasn’t until the 1800s that the practice became widespread. In 1808, Congress passed the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves, which prohibited the importation of enslaved people from Africa into the US. This act was repealed in 1845. Slavery was abolished with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865.