PDF Indian Nations of Wisconsin: Histories of Endurance and Renewal; 2 Edition by Patty Loew in History

Description

When they were brought to Oregon in 1844; Missouri slaves Robin and Polly Holmes and their children were promised freedom in exchange for helping develop their owner’s Willamette Valley farm. However; Nathaniel Ford; an influential settler and legislator; kept them in bondage until 1850; even then refusing to free their children. Holmes took his former master to court and; in the face of enormous odds; won the case in 1853.In Breaking Chains; R. Gregory Nokes tells the story of the only slavery case adjudicated in Oregon’s pre-Civil War courts—Holmes v. Ford. Through the lens of this landmark case; Nokes explores the historical context of racism in Oregon and the West; reminding readers that there actually were slaves in Oregon; though relatively few in number.Drawing on the court record; Nokes offers an intimate account of the relationship between a slave and his master from the slave’s point of view. He also explores the experiences of other slaves in early Oregon; examining attitudes toward race and revealing contradictions in the state’s history. Oregon was the only free state admitted to the union with a voter-approved constitutional clause banning African Americans and; despite the prohibition of slavery in the state; many in Oregon tolerated it and supported politicians who advocated for slavery; including Oregon’s first territorial governor.Breaking Chains sheds light on a somber part of Oregon’s history; bringing the story of slavery in Oregon to a broader audience. The book will appeal to readers interested in Pacific Northwest history and in the history of slavery in the United States.