The Spanish National Assembly abolishes slavery in Puerto Rico.

The Cortes Generales are the bicameral legislative chambers of Spain, consisting of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate.

Slavery in the Spanish American viceroyalties included the enslavement, forced labor and peonage of indigenous peoples, Africans, and Asians from the late 15th to late 19th century, and its aftereffects in the 20th and 21st centuries. The economic and social institution of slavery existed throughout the Spanish Empire, including Spain itself. Initially, indigenous people were subjected to the encomienda system until the 1543 New Laws that prohibited it. This was replaced with the repartimiento system. Africans were also transported to the Americas for their labor under the race-based system of chattel slavery. Later, Southeast Asian people were brought to the Americas under forms of indenture and peonage to provide cheap labor to replace enslaved Africans.

March 22 is the 81st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 284 days remain until the end of the year.