Slavery's Reach: Southern Slaveholders in the North Star State
Historian Dr. Christopher P. Lehman will speak at a live virtual event on his research and Minnesota Book Award winning book ?Slavery's Reach: Southern Slaveholders in the North Star State.? The eye-opening book exposes the dark history of our state's ties to southern slaveholder wealth. ?From the 1840s through the end of the Civil War, leading Minnesotans invited slaveholders and their wealth into the free territory and free state of Minnesota, enriching the area's communities and residents. Dozens of southern slaveholders and people raised in slaveholding families purchased land and backed Minnesota businesses. Slaveholders' wealth was invested in some of the state's most significant institutions and provided a financial foundation for several towns and counties. And the money generated by Minnesota investments flowed both ways, supporting some of the South's largest plantations.?
This event took place live online on Facebook Live June 30, 2020, and is available as a recording to view. The live event was viewed for at least 1 minute by 9 people. 33 total people have watched the live or recorded program.
33
Attendees will learn about the history of our state and its connections to southern slaveholder wealth. Attendees will learn how slaveholder wealth was courted and helped establish many of our state's towns. Attendees will hear from a prominent MN historian. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions about the history of our state.
Surveys reflected attendees enjoyed learning about slaveholder money in Minnesota and the fact that the entire country was touched by the slave economy even if it was a free state.
Lake Agassiz Regional Library