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November 9, 1857: Oregon Constitution Ratified

November 9, 2011 by Dave Leave a Comment

Oregon Constitution title page

We the people of the State of Oregon to the end that Justice be established, order maintained, and liberty perpetuated, do ordain this Constitution.-

Oregon’s electorate, made up of white men over the age of twenty-one, ratified the Oregon Constitution on November 9, 1857.

The process of drawing up the constitution began earlier in the year, with growing concerns over the slavery question.

Democrats hoped to consolidate their power despite splits in the party over slavery, while anti-Democrats sought to avoid having slavery forced upon them by the federal government in the wake of the disturbing events in “Bleeding Kansas” and the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision.

Delegates met in Salem in August to draft the constitution. On November 9 the voters ratified the constitution, rejected making Oregon a slavery state, and also passed a negro exclusion clause. The U.S. Senate ratified Oregon’s constitution soon thereafter, but the Congress didn’t agree until February 12, 1859. President James Buchanan signed the law making Oregon a state on Valentine’s Day, 1859.

Further reading:

  • Crafting the Oregon Constitution: Framework for a New State
  • Constitution of Oregon: Original 1857 Version

Filed Under: History, Oregon, Politics, This Day in History

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