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John Punch's Case
- In 1640, John Punch, an African indentured servant, escaped with a Dutchman and a Scotsman.
- Unlike the Europeans who received additional servitude, Punch was sentenced to lifelong servitude, marking a turning point in racial discrimination.
Elizabeth Key's Freedom
- Elizabeth Key, daughter of a white legislator and an enslaved African woman, successfully sued for her freedom in 1655.
- Virginia subsequently changed its laws to state that a child's status derived from the mother, solidifying racial lines.
Defining Whiteness
- In 1682, Virginia limited citizenship to Europeans, making all non-Europeans slaves.
- This law marked the first documented use of "white" in the colonies to describe full citizens.