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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 15 |
15 stories matching right
- The Rule of Law in the Wild West
A deep dive into the 1854 Washington Territorial legal code governing criminal trials, bail, and the rights of the accused.
- Washington Territory’s 1854 Native Voting Rights Debate
In 1854, territorial lawmakers debated extending voting rights to Native Americans of mixed ancestry, exposing tensions over citizenship, race, and belonging.
- A Warning to Settlers on the Nisqually Reservation
Federal agents move to enforce strict control over timber and property rights on Indigenous land.
- Territorial Legislature Debates Voting Rights and Prohibition
Early Washington lawmakers grapple with the rights of Indigenous voters, the push for a prohibition law, and the appointment of regional officials.
- The Special Agent's Plea for Peace
Michael T. Simmons, newly appointed Indian Agent, calls for an end to liquor sales and unauthorized violence in the Puget Sound region.
- The Birth of Mechanic's Liens in Washington Territory
A landmark 1854 statute established the right for laborers to place liens on buildings and land to ensure they were paid for their work.
- Federal Officials Move to Ban Private Indigenous Land Claims
Federal Indian agents warn that private acquisition of land from Indigenous people without government oversight is strictly prohibited.
- The Temperance Crusade Comes to Olympia
A prominent attorney argues for a 'Maine Liquor Law' to suppress the liquor trade in Washington Territory.
- Legislative Debate Over Land Rights for Discharged Soldiers
Olympia lawmakers clash over proposed land grants for discharged soldiers, fearing corporate land speculation.
- The Fight Over Suffrage for Mixed-Race Citizens
Territorial legislators debate whether citizens of mixed white and Indigenous heritage should be granted the right to vote.
- The Shadow Monopoly Over Washington Territory
Legislators in 1854 struggle to reconcile the existence of a British-owned agricultural monopoly with American settlement goals.
- Protecting the Tools of the Trade
Territorial legislators debate how much property a settler should be allowed to keep safe from debt collectors.
- The Right to Vote in Washington Territory
Legislative debates heat up over the enfranchisement of Indigenous people in the mid-1850s.
- The Pioneer Argument Against Prohibition
An 1854 speech by legislator Mr. Chenoweth argues that legal coercion is a poor substitute for individual morality in the fight against intemperance.
- The Fight Over Who Can Vote: Half-Breeds and the 1854 Legislature
A heated debate erupts in the Council over whether 'half-breeds' should be granted the elective franchise, revealing deep tensions over literacy, race, and colonial control.