Ku Klux Klan in Oregon

Racism in Oregon Starting when it was still a territory, Oregon had several laws which prohibited both enslaved and free African Americans from living in the state. The first, passed in 1843, outlawed slavery except as punishment for a crime. It was amended in 1844 to limit how much time slave owners had to move their slaves out of the state before they would be freed by the state; free Blacks were not allowed to remain in the state, with a proposed punishment for staying in the state being a lashing (with this provision being repealed before it was enforced). In 1848, a law was passed barring African Americans from migrating into Oregon, but allowed those already residing in the state to stay; this law was overturned in 1854. The growth of the Democrat supported pro-slavery movement in the southwest quarter of the Oregon Territory was greatly influenced by the California Gold Rush. Oregonians and Southerners traveled in large numbers to the California gold mines during the 1850s. Wealthy Southerners brought slaves with them or captured local African Americans, Chinese, and Native Americans to work the mines - introducing Oregon miners to the advantages of slave labor. Many returning Oregon miners and Southern miners, relocating to the territory, brought the pro-slavery movement with them or a fear of cheap slave labor competition. Strong support from pro-slavery newspapers, backed by the National Democratic Party, helped influence many more territorial residents - especially residents living between the central Willamette Valley and the Southern border. However, few Oregonians had the resources to participate in slavery. Many believed slave-owning farmers, settling in Oregon, would out-compete their own small, independent farms. When Oregon was admitted into the Union in 1859, its constitution contained an exclusion law prohibiting Blacks from living in the state, owning property, or entering into contracts. The passage of the 14th Amendment in 1868 effectively overrode this law, but it was not officially repealed until 1926. == Operations ==

Ku Klux Klan's expansion into Oregon With similar views of racism, white supremacy and anti-Catholic, anti-Semitic, and anti-immigrant stances, it was easy for the Klan to move into Oregon. The first member of the Ku Klux Klan was sworn in by Major Luther I. Powell in 1921 in Medford. During the same time, other members of the Klan were at work searching for new recruits across the state to add to their numbers and organize local chapters and klaverns. Portland The Ku Klux Klan's development and growth across America was widely known as the "Middle-Class Movement". Initial growth in Portland, was fundamentally founded on this principle. The traditions of the middle class, as well as their populist beliefs, complimented the Black exclusion laws that existed in the mid-1800s. In addition, there were anti-Chinese and anti-Japanese sentiments present because of the large populations of such groups in Portland and the surrounding areas. In 1924, the bidding process for the replacement of the Burnside Bridge ended with a suspicious winning bid; the public would later learn that the 1924 contract was given for $500,000 more than the lowest bid. Having moved the bridge location to profit by selling their land, three Multnomah County commissioners were recalled as a result of the scandal, and a new engineering company assumed control of the project. The Klan had backed the commissioners and enabled their system of kickbacks and grafts; the ensuing "rotten bridge scandal" removed much of the Klan's clout, even by 1924. == Policies ==

Black Exclusion Laws In the 1840s and 1850s, white residents of Oregon generally did not support slavery, however, they also did not want to live alongside African Americans. The first Black exclusion law was the result of the Organic Laws of Oregon, established in the Oregon Country in 1843 by the Provisional Government of Oregon. They included an article banning slavery in Oregon except for use as punishment, although the means of enforcement was left unclear. The Organic Laws were amended in 1844, reiterating the prohibition of slavery in Oregon, and forcing slave owners to remove slaves from the state. Once in effect, freed male slaves could not stay in Oregon for more than two years, and a female slave could not stay longer than three years. Any free African American who refused to leave would be subject to lashings and beatings. These punishments were prohibited in 1845. The Oregon Territorial Legislature enacted the second Black exclusion law on September 21, 1849. This law specified that "it shall not be lawful for any negro or mulatto to enter into, or reside" in Oregon. This law targeted African American seamen who could be tempted to jump overboard and swim to the coast to escape. Lawmakers were concerned that Blacks would "intermix with Indians, instilling into their minds feelings of hostility toward the white race". The second exclusion act was later rescinded in 1854. In 1857, the Oregon Constitution was ratified, and sections of Article XVIII went into effect. The article contained provisions for putting the questions of slavery and free Blacks to a vote of the people. The slavery amendment failed, but the exclusion law passed. == Notable figures ==

Walter M. Pierce Walter M. Pierce was an Oregon politician from 1886 to 1942. During those years, he served in elected offices such as county recorder, state legislator, governor, and U.S. congressman. Pierce was an active participant in social movements such as populism and progressivism. Eventually, Pierce was elected to the Oregon State Senate, placing him at the forefront of these social and political reforms. His views on social reform mirrored those views which were held by members of the middle class, and at the time, the Klan's values mirrored the contradictory social and political values which were held by members of the middle class. Pierce was a supporter of radical populism and democratic populism, which led to his eventual support of and partnership with the Ku Klux Klan. After an unsuccessful run in 1918, Pierce was elected Governor of Oregon in 1922, while the political power of the Ku Klux Klan simultaneously emerged in Oregon. The Klan supported Pierce during his campaign for governor and was in close communication with Pierce as he was in office. After his retirement from political office in Oregon, Pierce would go on to be elected to Congress in 1932. == References ==