History of slavery in Nebraska facts for kids

The history of slavery in Nebraska is a story that was quite short and didn't involve many people. However, it was a very important and debated topic for the lawmakers in the Nebraska Territory. This debate happened between 1854, when the territory was created, and 1861, when the American Civil War began.

When African Americans first arrived in the Nebraska Territory in larger groups, they were often welcomed. Some people even thought Nebraska was a place where attitudes toward Black people were more understanding.

Early Days in Nebraska

The first Black person recorded in the area that would become Nebraska was a man named York. He was an enslaved African American who traveled with William Clark as part of the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition. York explored the lands along the Missouri River in 1846 and 1847.

In 1820, the United States Congress passed a law called the Missouri Compromise. This law said that slavery was not allowed in the undeveloped lands that would later become the Nebraska Territory. Lawmakers in Congress didn't discuss slavery in Nebraska again until 1854.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act and Big Debates

In 1854, a new law called the Kansas–Nebraska Act was passed. This act created the Nebraska Territory. It also changed the rules set by the Missouri Compromise. The new law allowed people in the Nebraska and Kansas territories to decide for themselves if they wanted slavery or not.

From 1855 onward, the question of whether to allow slavery was a constant topic. It was debated over and over again in the Territorial Legislature.

Enslaved People in Nebraska

Even though Nebraska never voted to allow slavery, some farmers from Southern states brought a small number of enslaved people with them. In 1855, there were 13 enslaved people in Nebraska. By 1860, that number had dropped to 10. Most of these enslaved people lived near Nebraska City.

One story tells of a group of people trying to cross the Missouri River in 1856. The ferry operator, a Southern settler named Nuckolls, owned enslaved people and didn't want them to cross. However, the group managed to convince him to ferry them over.

On November 25, 1858, two enslaved people owned by Mr. Nuckolls escaped. Later, on June 30, 1860, six enslaved people owned by Alexander Majors, also from Nebraska City, also escaped. Records show that two enslaved people were even sold at a public auction in Nebraska City on December 5, 1860.

Newspaper Opinions and Political Fights

In 1859, a newspaper called the Daily Nebraskian openly supported slavery. It reported on a bill in the Omaha City Council that aimed to end slavery in the territory. The newspaper hoped the bill would fail.

During this time, some local newspapers in Omaha also wrote articles against Black people. They supported the Confederacy and were against Abraham Lincoln becoming president.

Nebraska Territory Governor Samuel W. Black stopped two bills that were against slavery. He believed that the people of Nebraska should decide on slavery when they wrote their state constitution, not the Territorial Legislature. Many lawmakers also argued that a law against slavery wasn't needed because slavery didn't really exist in Nebraska.

However, the 1860 census showed that out of 81 Black people in Nebraska, only 10 were enslaved.

A lawmaker named Mr. Little disagreed with those who said an anti-slavery law was useless. He argued that if people who supported slavery claimed they had the right to bring enslaved people to Nebraska, then those who wanted Nebraska to be free should fight for it.

In 1861, the territorial legislature finally passed a bill that banned slavery in Nebraska. But the governor vetoed it, meaning he rejected it. He said that since there were so few enslaved people, it was a waste of time to pass such a law. He thought the issue should wait until Nebraska became a state.

The Nebraska Advertiser newspaper called the governor's veto message "the weakest paper we have ever known." But the lawmakers didn't give up. They voted again, and this time, they had enough votes to override the governor's veto. With this vote, slavery was officially forbidden in Nebraska.

Even though slavery was banned, the early lawmakers limited voting rights to "free white males." After the Civil War, this rule caused problems for Nebraska to become a state. It delayed Nebraska's entry into the Union for almost a year until the legislature changed the rule.

The Mayhew Cabin: A Stop on the Underground Railroad

Just outside Nebraska City, Nebraska, you can find the Mayhew Cabin. This cabin was built in 1855 and belonged to Allen and Barbara Mayhew. Barbara's brother, John Henri Kagi, met and was greatly influenced by the famous abolitionist John Brown in 1856. Kagi became a key figure in Brown's efforts to fight slavery.

Kagi helped make his sister's farm a stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network of safe houses and routes that helped enslaved people escape to freedom from the South.

In 2005, the Mayhew Cabin was restored. Today, the museum site also includes the Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church. This was one of the first Black churches established west of the Missouri River.