On Jan. 1, 1808, it became illegal to import slaves into the United States. Eric Foner reflects about this important, and neglected, anniversary.

Jan. 1, 1808, is worth commemorating not only for what it directly accomplished, but for helping to save the United States from a history even more terrible than the Civil War that eventually rid our country of slavery.

UPDATE: Jack Balkin has more on the end of slave importation here.