European Exploration & Settlement
What was one reason Europeans settled in Arkansas?
European settlers came to Arkansas looking for land and farming opportunities.
How were enslaved people treated under the law?
Enslaved people were considered property under Arkansas law.
Who was Nelson Hackett?
He was an enslaved man who escaped from Arkansas to Canada.
What are slave codes?
Laws that controlled enslaved people and protected slaveholders.
What is one way enslaved people resisted?
Running away was one way enslaved people resisted slavery.
Why were rivers important to early Arkansas settlements?
Rivers were important because they provided transportation and fertile soil.
What crop increased the use of enslaved labor in Arkansas?
Cotton farming was one major reason slavery expanded in Arkansas.
Why did Nelson Hackett flee Arkansas?
He escaped to Canada to gain his freedom.
What was one legal restriction placed on enslaved people?
Enslaved people could not legally testify against white citizens in court.
What are examples of everyday resistance?
Some enslaved people slowed work or broke tools as acts of resistance.
What are plantations?
Large farms that grew crops like cotton and relied on enslaved labor.
What were working conditions like for enslaved people?
Enslaved people worked long hours and had very few rights.
What happened to Nelson Hackett after he escaped?
He was arrested in Canada and sent back to Arkansas.
What law allowed escaped enslaved people to be sent back?
The Fugitive Slave Act allowed enslaved people to be captured and returned.
Where did many enslaved people try to escape to?
Seeking freedom in free states or Canada was a common goal.
How did farming lead to the growth of slavery in Arkansas?
The agricultural economy of early Arkansas increased the demand for enslaved labor.
Why did Arkansas create slave codes?
Laws were created to protect slaveholders and control enslaved people.
What did Nelson Hackett’s case reveal about the legal system?
His case showed that laws often protected slaveholders over enslaved people.
How did the legal system view enslaved individuals?
Courts treated enslaved people as property rather than citizens.
What does resistance tell us about enslaved people?
Resistance showed that enslaved people did not accept slavery quietly.
How did European exploration and settlement contribute to slavery in Arkansas?
European settlement created an economic system that depended on enslaved workers.
How did slavery impact Arkansas society?
Slavery shaped Arkansas’s economy, politics, and daily life before the Civil War.
Why is Nelson Hackett’s story significant in Arkansas history?
His story is important because it shows resistance and the struggle for freedom.
What did Hackett’s return from Canada demonstrate about slavery laws?
Nelson Hackett’s extradition showed international cooperation in enforcing slavery laws.
How does Hackett’s story demonstrate resistance?
Nelson Hackett’s escape attempt was an act of courage and resistance.