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Martinez

Jessica Martinez

Professor Mr. Scott

U.S. History

28th March, 2016

The Racial Prejudices of the Oregon People and its involvement in the Birth of Oregon:

Around the globe, Oregon is perceived as the innovative, quirky, free mind and spirit, “keep Portland

weird” state as the state that accepts mixed culture, religion, and sexuality. These ideas are created by the

modern state, but are not attributes of Oregon's past. Oregon has a long history of racist laws towards people of

color or anyone and anything that goes against the American white Protestant civilization. The phases of

Oregon’s birth reflect the attitudes and beliefs of the Oregon people. In the Provisional phase, the legislature

prohibited permanent residency of any African-Americans or mulattoes over the age of 18, and failure to abide

by these rules resulted in a harsh penalty. (Brown, Kate) After Oregon passed the Provisional phase, it

transformed into a territorial state that produced a draft constitution showing strong racist language, reflected in

Article 11 Section 6:“No Negro, Chinaman, or Mulatto shall have the right of suffrage.” ("Oregon Blue Book:

Constitution of Oregon: Original 1857 Version.") The attitudes shown in the phases of Oregon's birth produced a

perfect atmosphere for the KKK.

In 1842, the land known now as the Willamette valley in the Pacific Northwest region (Oregon) was

being settled by overland emigrants coming through the Oregon Trail. These emigrates created a premature state

known as phase one Provisional Oregon. The premature state was wealthy in land and resources that the white

settlers or “Oregonian’s” believed was rightfully theirs. African-Americans, Chinaman, and mulattoes were

altogether not wanted and were treated as such. The Provisional legislative assembly banned African-Americans

and Mulattoes from permanently acquiring land, if they did not leave the penalty was “no less than 20 and no

more than 39 lashes.”(Brown, Kate.)The act of the Provisional Legislature banning permanent residency of non

white minorities reaching the age of 18 in the premature state of Oregon confirmed the racial prejudice of the

frontier generation moving into the Willamette valley.

Adolescence was during the 1848-1857's when Oregon was a territory of the United States. During this

period, the legislative assembly worked on a draft constitution to become a state. The draft constitution was full
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of strong racist language reflecting racist beliefs. In 1857, Oregon was heavily populated with white men and

women. When people voted to approve the constitution, Oregon was inhabited by approximately 10,000 white

men and women, compared to approximately 54-56 African-Americans and Mulattoes.("Oregon Blue Book:

Constitution of Oregon: Original 1857 Version.") The lack in racial diversity slanted the votes towards actions

that appealed to white protestant beliefs. Three questions were asked directed specificity at the racial attitudes of

the Oregon white population. The first was “Do you vote for the Constitution? Yes, or No.” ("Oregon Blue

Book: Constitution of Oregon: Original 1857 Version.")The Oregon people accepted the draft constitution and

were very happy to make Oregon a state.

The second question was, “Do you vote for Slavery in Oregon? Yes, or No.” ("Oregon Blue Book:

Constitution of Oregon: Original 1857 Version.") Oregonians voted against owning slaves. Oregonians treated

non white minorities like they were diseased creatures or demonic beasts. They wanted to avoid any interaction

with non white minorities and desired to have them sent out of Oregon, the pure state of white protestant males

and females. Many Oregonians voted against slavery but only few laws were put into action to prevent slaves.

Laws forbidding emigrates from entering Oregon were mainly established.

The third question, “Do you vote for free Negroes in Oregon? Yes or no.” ("Oregon Blue Book:

Constitution of Oregon: Original 1857 Version.") Few Oregonians voted for free Negroes in Oregon they wanted

to keep Oregon “pure.” Article 1 Section 6 shares that no Negro, Chinaman, or Mulatto shall have the right of

suffrage, hence only white Oregonians could vote to approve the constitution. Article 1 Section 31 shares that

only white foreigners who are, and hereafter become residents of Oregon shall enjoy the same rights as white

native born Oregonians in respect to the possession, enjoyment, and descent of property.("Oregon Blue Book:

Constitution of Oregon: Original 1857 Version." ) If the individual did not meet these requirements the

Legislative assembly had the power to restrain territorial Oregon land and regulate the immigration of persons

who were unqualified to become citizens of the United States. Article 1 Section 35 stated that non white

minorities could not own land, reside in territorial Oregon, make a contract, maintain a suit, and were to be

removed by public officers. Also anyone harboring, employing, or bringing non white minorities into Oregon

would be punished. ("Oregon Blue Book: Constitution of Oregon: Original 1857 Version.") Both Article 1

Section 6 and Section 35 were repealed, (Brown, Kate.) but were powerfully acknowledged by the Oregon
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people. The draft constitution represented the beliefs and attitudes the Oregon people had towards non white

minorities in the territorial phase or Oregon. Oregon was successful in becoming a state on February 14th 1859.

The Oregon people showed their attitudes towards non white minorities, these attitudes matched nicely with

those of the KKK..

The racial language was deleted years after the constitution was adopted, but the attitudes remained. In

the early 1920's Keagle, or a KKK recruiter, Luther Powell crossed the border from California into Oregon,

("OregonLive.com.") seeing the potential of Oregon people as Klan members. The “One-Hundred Percent

Americanism” attitude of the KKK related to the manner Oregonians felt, many did not question it's

philosophies. The Klan was almost abolished before the 1920's, but when Powell sought Oregonians as Klan

members they gained ground with close to 4 million as it spread beyond the south into the North and West,

Oregon by itself had 14,000 members.("OregonLive.com.") Powell was smart and understood that Oregonians

would not claim to be an anti-anything state, so when he spoke he would state that the Klan was not “an anti-

organization of any kind,” the King Keagle shared, “we are no anti-Japanese, or anti-Jew, or anti-(black) or anti

anything else.” Powell shared with the Oregon people that there was “no secret American fraternal

organization” and that the KKK was going to provide that demand emphasizing that non white minorities had

their own organization excluding white protestant individuals. Hollywood also had an impact on Oregon falling

in love with the hero's of the pure protestant society, its first feature film in 1915 by D.W. Griffith glamorized

the Klansman as guardians of Oregonians values.("OregonLive.com.") Through Oregon’s early years of

statehood the constitution, religion, and attitudes of the Oregon people created the perfect niche for the KKK.

In the Southern states the KKK was a rampant and violent vigilante group, contrasting with the Oregon

Klan that was, for the most part, nonviolent in physical actions. The reality of the KKK was clouded by its

promises to the Oregon people as it claimed to appeal to patriotism and “white rights.” There is one documented

partial lynching where the victim was released after being hung for short time and let “free” as the lynching mob

shot at the victim.(Brown, Kate) Powell stated that “stories of Klan violence [were] largely false” and that “there

are some cases of course” where the Klan “will have to take everything into” their power, because “some crimes

are not punishable under existing laws, but the criminals should be punished.”("OregonLive.com.") Oregonians

were self sufficient individuals that had a strong religion and post World War I, World War II, Spanish Flu, and
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Cold War emotions that encouraged their beliefs as a superior and pure people, then supporting their mental

prejudice and racist positions towards non white minorities. Klansmen would often organize family picnics,

bands, sports teams, and charity activities to appoint a superior unit mindset where only pure persons were

included. ("OregonLive.com.") The Oregon Klan played a compelling role in social and cultural life compared to

its political force.

The political world of the Oregon Klan was successful in electing several Klansmen into county offices

and even seats in the state Legislature. The candidates understood the power of being a supporter of the KKK,

because they would have guaranteed votes and the Klan saw the power of being engaged in political affairs. The

Klan flexed its political role by successfully unseating Congressman Clifton McArthur and Olcott in the 1922

election and electing Democrat Walter M. Pierce as governor. Also, the Klan played a significant role in almost

passing a law where all children ranging from age 8 to 16 had to attend public schools free of religious

influences. This measure targeted Roman Catholics, but would have obviated all private and non government

controlled educational institutions. ("The Oregon Encyclopedia.")

Oregon has a long history of racial prejudices towards non white minorities. The overland emigrants

taking the Oregon trail to the Willamette valley in 1842 showed their racial attitudes, beliefs, and religion deeply

entrenched in the three phases of Oregon’s birth, Provisional, Territorial, and early years of Statehood. Strong

religion and post World War I, World War II, Spanish Flu, and Cold War emotions encouraged Oregonians

beliefs as a superior and pure people, through this the Oregon people founded their prejudice towards non white

minorities. Oregon’s racism and white superiority state of mind was the perfect place for the KKK to gain

ground. The KKK took a different role in Oregon as a Klan that splintered churches, families, schools, and as a

Klan with a strong political force. The Klan faded away in the 1920's because various other nonviolent white

protestant groups spawned up, corrupt leaders and actions, and the Klan only developed in rural communities

rather than in big cities. The Klu Klux Klan was once an influential part of the Oregon culture, but the racial

prejudices have faded away to create a melting pot of diversity.

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Work Cited

Brown, Kate. Oregon Blue Book. Oregon: Archives Division, 2015. Print. Articles: The Oregon Question,
Minorities, and Statehood

"Oregon Blue Book: Constitution of Oregon: Original 1857 Version." Oregon Blue Book: Constitution of
Oregon: Original 1857 Version. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.

"Oregon Historical Society." Oregon Historical Society. Web. 18 Feb. 2016

"OregonLive.com." OregonLive.com. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.

"Rise of Ku Klux Klan in Oregon: A Racist Moneymaking Scheme." Rise of Ku Klux Klan in Oregon: A Racist
Moneymaking Scheme. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
.
"The Oregon Encyclopedia." The Oregon Encyclopedia. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.