The U.S. presidential mansion is first occupied; much of its construction was performed by enslaved Black laborers.
At a Glance
- Date
- 1 November 1800
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
- Category
- Abolition & Slavery
- Source
- White House Historical Association records · White House Historical Association
What It Meant Then
It embodied the contradiction of a slaveholding nation building monuments to liberty.
What It Means Now
Recognition of the enslaved builders has reshaped how the White House's history is told.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “The White House and Enslaved Labor.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-white-house-and-enslaved-labor/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). The White House and Enslaved Labor. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-white-house-and-enslaved-labor/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “The White House and Enslaved Labor.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-white-house-and-enslaved-labor/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.