History of slavery in New Mexico facts for kids
Slavery and forced labor have a long and complicated history in New Mexico. Over time, the rules about it changed often. When Spain first took control of the area, they brought slavery with them. Later, when Mexico ruled, they tried to limit it. But as a United States territory, slavery became fully legal again until the American Civil War. During these years, very few Black people were enslaved in New Mexico. Most of the enslaved people were Native Americans.
Spanish Rule
How Slavery Started in New Mexico
When Spanish colonists arrived in New Mexico, they began to use the local people for labor. This led to many raids and battles. The Spanish often captured people from nomadic Native American tribes. These captured people were called genízaros.
Who Were the Genízaros?
Most Genízaros were young people from tribes like the Navajo, Pawnee, Apache, Kiowa Apache, Ute, Comanche, and Paiute. They were bought and then worked as house servants or sheepherders. Sometimes, even Pueblo people were enslaved by court orders. For example, in 1659, a young Hopi man named Juan Suñi was enslaved for ten years after being accused of stealing.
The Pueblo Revolt and Its Impact
The Pueblo Revolt in 1680 temporarily stopped Spanish enslavement of Native Americans in New Mexico. The Spanish settlers and soldiers were forced to leave. However, the Spanish regained control in 1692. By the mid-1700s, stronger tribes also raided weaker tribes for slaves and goods. The Comanche tribe, for instance, became very powerful in the eastern plains.
Spanish Leaders and Enslavement
Spanish governors often used their power to gain personal wealth. They made Native Americans work for them and sold Native American slaves in other parts of New Spain. They also sold goods made by enslaved Native American labor.
Protecting Enslaved People?
Enslaved people were supposed to be protected by the Laws of the Indies. However, many still complained of bad treatment. Even though they were baptized as Christians, some would escape if they could. After missionaries complained, officials decided to settle baptized Native Americans on land grants. These settlements were often at the edges of Spanish towns. They also acted as a protective barrier against attacks from other tribes. The Spanish believed that these "redeemed" captives were better off after being educated and converted to Christianity.
Genízaro Communities
In 1778, Juan Agustin Morfi described communities like Tomé and Belén, south of Albuquerque. He noted that these towns had a group of Native Americans called genízaros. These were captives from tribes like the Comanche and Apache. They were raised among the Spanish and married within the province. They often lived among the Spanish without their own land. They relied on hunting for food. Morfi also said they were excellent and brave soldiers. He mentioned that it was hard to get them to work for daily wages because of past unfair treatment. About sixty Genízaro families lived in Belén and Tomé.
By the early American period (1821–1880), most Genízaros were of Navajo background. During talks with the United States military, Navajo leaders spoke about their people being held as servants. They said that "over half the tribe" was among the Mexican households. Most of these captives never returned to the Navajo nation. Instead, they became part of the lower classes in Hispanic villages. People from different tribes often married each other in these communities.
Mexican Rule
After Mexico became independent from Spain in 1821, it passed the Treaty of Córdoba. This treaty said that all Native American tribes within Mexico's borders were citizens. The new Mexican government officially declared that all ethnic groups were equal. This meant genízaros were supposed to be equal to their neighbors. However, this rule was not fully put into practice. The trade of enslaved people continued to thrive in Mexico.
New Mexico Territory
Slavery Becomes a Big Issue
After the Mexican–American War ended in 1848, New Mexico became a U.S. territory. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo transferred the land. The question of slavery in this new territory became a major debate. The Whig political party wanted to keep Mexico's ban on slavery. The Democratic party wanted to allow it.
The Compromise of 1850
In the Compromise of 1850, it was decided that New Mexico Territory could choose its own rules about slavery. This was called popular sovereignty. In 1859, New Mexico passed a law called the Act for the Protection of Slave Property. This law made slavery fully legal again. This happened partly because the Territorial Governor, William Carr Lane, and the Chief Justice, Grafton Baker, owned Black slaves.
Opposition to Slavery
Many local citizens had different views. Soon after the treaty was signed, a group of important New Mexicans spoke out against slavery. They asked the Congress to change the military government to a temporary territorial form. They likely wanted more self-government. Also, the slave state of Texas claimed much of New Mexico. Many people thought Texas might try to invade again, as it had in 1841 and 1843. However, there were never more than about a dozen Black slaves in New Mexico during these years.
Ending Slavery and Peonage
On June 19, 1862, Congress banned slavery in all U.S. territories. New Mexico citizens asked the U.S. Senate for money for the 600 Native American slaves who would be freed. The Senate said no. Federal agents were sent to make sure slavery was abolished. However, the Spanish practice of peonage, a type of forced labor, became a legal way around the ban.
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution legally ended both slavery and forced labor in December 1865. But when Special Indian Agent J.K. Graves visited in June 1866, he found that slavery was still common. It was often in the form of peonage. Many federal agents themselves had captive servants. Graves estimated that there were 400 enslaved people in Santa Fe alone. On March 2, 1867, Congress passed the Peonage Act of 1867. This law specifically aimed to stop the practice of peonage in New Mexico.
In Popular Culture
- "Along Came Mariana" an episode of Death Valley Days, set in 1857.
