- Nebraska Territorial Legislature
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Nebraska Territorial Legislature Type Type Bicameral Houses Lower: House of Representatives
Upper: CouncilTimeline Nebraska Territory Established 1855 Succeeded by Nebraska Legislature Disbanded 1865 Members 39 (13 Council; 26 House) Meeting place Omaha City The Nebraska Territorial Legislature was held from January 16, 1855 until 1865 in Omaha City, Nebraska Territory.
Contents
Major issues
Slavery
Main article: History of slavery in NebraskaIn 1854 the Kansas-Nebraska Act created the Nebraska Territory, overturning the Missouri Compromise by allowing legislatures of the Nebraska and Kansas territories to determine whether to permit or abolish slavery. Slavery was a contentious issue for the territorial legislature between the creation of the Territory in 1854 and the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861.[1][2]
State Capitol
Main article: Nebraska State CapitolAfter serving as the territorial capital for ten years, Omaha City wanted to be the capital of the new state. In 1854 land speculators formed the Omaha Claim Club as part of a scheme to persuade territory legislators to keep the capital in Omaha. Their aggressive efforts to secure land to give away to legislators led to the platting of Scriptown. However, their bid failed, and in 1865 the state capitol moved to Lincoln.
Sessions
1855
Main article: First Nebraska Territorial LegislatureThe new legislature immediately passed the Free Public School Act of 1855, which created free public schools for children across the territory. Positions for a territorial superintendent and county school superintendents to be elected by popular vote were also created. County superintendents were supposed to organize school districts and levy property taxes to support schools; however, not every locale levied the taxes or built schools.[3]
The first incorporated city in Nebraska, Nebraska City, was granted its charter by a special act in 1855.[4] In 1855, the Omaha Claim Club imposed their will on the territorial legislature, forcing the passage of a territorial law granting 320 acres (1.3 km2) per settler, they doubled the federally-imposed limit of 160 acres (0.6 km2).[5]
1856
In January 1856, the territorial legislature chartered the Bank of Florence, which failed three years later.[6]
1857
On February 11 the territorial legislature gave permission to a group of citizens to found the University of Nebraska at Saratoga, Nebraska. However, when they did not complete the task of meeting in Saratoga and establishing a campus within one year they lost their permission to charter.[7]
1858
In January, 1858 a group of representatives illegally moved the territorial legislature to Florence following a violent outburst at the capitol building. After repeatedly being dogged out of voting on the removal of the capital from Omaha, a skirmish pitted representatives from Nebraska City, Florence, and other communities to convene outside of Omaha. Despite having a majority of members present for the vote to remove the capital and all agreeing, the "Florence Legislature" did not succeed in swaying the Nebraska Territory governor. The capital remained at Omaha until 1867 when Nebraska gained statehood.[8]
1860
In early 1860 the territorial legislature authorized a special election to consider forming a state constitution, which did not pass.[9]
1864
The territorial legislature had a variety of powers, including granting every incorporated town or city its charter, which lasted through the 1864 session, when the first general incorporation act was passed and signed by the governor.[10]
1866
Six years later, on January 9, 1866 the territorial Governor Alvin Saunders urged the Legislature to consider statehood.[11]
Municipal incorporations
The territorial legislature had the sole power of incorporating every municipality throughout the territory until 1864. A number of incorporations existed only on paper and were never actually settled. In 1864, the first general incorporation act was passed by the legislature and signed by the governor which allowed county commissioners to incorporate towns.[12]
Date of charter Name County Notes March 2, 1857 Nebraska City Otoe March 5, 1857 Bellevue Sarpy Then part of Douglas March 7, 1857 De Soto Washington March 10, 1857 Florence Douglas March 14, 1857 Blackbird City Burt March 14, 1857 Brownville Nemaha March 14, 1857 Chester Lancaster March 14, 1857 Elizabeth Dodge and Loup March 14, 1857 Fontenelle Washington March 14, 1857 Plattsmouth Cass March 14, 1857 Tekemah Burt March 15, 1855 Carlisle Greene Greene County became Seward March 15, 1855 Wyoming City Otoe March 15, 1855 Lawrence York March 16, 1855 Jalape Dodge March 16, 1855 Kearney City Otoe Merged with Nebraska City March 16, 1855 Margaritta sic Lancaster January 22, 1856 Elkhorn City Douglas January 22, 1856 Kenosha Cass January 22, 1856 Nemaha City Nemaha January 25, 1856 Archer Richardson January 25, 1856 Askatope Otoe January 25, 1856 La Platte, Nebraska Sarpy Then in Douglas County January 25, 1856 Wyoming Otoe January 26, 1856 Decatur Burt January 26, 1856 Rock Bluffs Cass January 26, 1856 South Nebraska City Otoe February 2, 1857 Omaha City Dodge February 10, 1857 Cuming City Washington February 10, 1857 Salem Richardson February 10, 1857 Waterville Cass February 10, 1857 Woodsville City Cass February 11, 1857 Cassville Dakota February 11, 1857 Leman Gage February 13, 1857 Addison Knox February 13, 1857 Bleyburg Dakota February 13, 1857 Bradford Cass February 13, 1857 Bow City Dixon February 13, 1857 California City Otoe February 13, 1857 Dayton Clay February 13, 1857 Dewit sic Cuming February 13, 1857 Deleware City Otoe February 13, 1857 Iron Bluffs Sarpy Originally located in Douglas February 13, 1857 Jacksonville Pawnee February 13, 1857 La Loup Loup February 13, 1857 Logan Washington February 13, 1857 Louisville Cass February 13, 1857 Marietta Otoe February 13, 1857 Papillion City, Nebraska Sarpy Originally in Douglas February 13, 1857 St. John Dakota February 13, 1857 Spring Grove City Otoe December 31, 1857 Nebraska City Otoe Consolidated Nebraska City, South Nebraska City, and Kearney City December 31, 1857 Omadi Dakota December 31, 1857 Greggsport Otoe January 5, 1858 North Rock Bluffs Cass January 6, 1858 Monroe Monroe Monroe County was merged with Platte County October 2, 1858 Columbus Platte October 19, 1858 North Bend Dixon October 19, 1858 Wacapana Cedar October 20, 1858 St. Helena Cedar October 21, 1858 Dakota Dakota October 28, 1858 Beatrice Gage October 28, 1858 West Point Cuming November 1, 1858 Rulo Richardson November 2, 1858 Fremont November 3, 1858 Rock Bluffs City Cass November 3, 1858 St. Stephen Richardson November 4, 1858 Bon Homme City Knox November 4, 1858 Fort Calhoun Washington November 4, 1858 Mahala City Butler November 4, 1858 Parkersburg Monroe Monroe was merged with Platte November 4, 1858 Pawnee City Pawnee January 4, 1860 Kearney City Kearney January 4, 1860 Table Rock Pawnee January 10, 1860 Arago Richardson January 13, 1860 Dixon Dixon January 13, 1860 Falls City Richardson January 13, 1860 Peru Nemaha References
- ^ Works Progress Administration. (1939) "Immigration," Negroes in Nebraska. Retrieved 9/20/07.
- ^ Bristow, D. (2002) A Dirty, Wicked Town: Tale of 19th Century Omaha. Caxton Press.
- ^ "Pioneer Children: School", NebraskaStudies.org - State of Nebraska. Retrieved 9/17/10.
- ^ (1912) Bulletin. Issues 2. Nebraska State Legislature. p. 7.
- ^ Morton, J. and Watkins, A. (1918) "Nebraska Claim Meeting," History of Nebraska from the Earliest Explorations of the Trans-Mississippi Region. Lincoln, NE: Western Publishing and Engraving Company. p. 188. Retrieved 7/15/07.
- ^ "Today in Nebraska History", KMTV. Retrieved 9/17/10.
- ^ (1857) "An Act to incorporate the University of Nebraska at Saratoga, Nebraska City." Laws, joint resolutions, and memorials passed at the regular session of the General Assembly of the Territory of Nebraska. p. 215.
- ^ Bristow, D. (1997) A Dirty, Wicked Town: Tale of 19th Century Omaha. Caxton Press.
- ^ "Today in Nebraska History", KMTV. Retrieved 9/17/10.
- ^ (1912) Bulletin. Issues 2. Nebraska State Legislature. p. 7.
- ^ "Today in Nebraska History", KMTV. Retrieved 9/17/10.
- ^ (1912) Bulletin. Issues 2. Nebraska State Legislature. p. 7.
External links
- "Nebraska as a Territory," History of the State of Nebraska, Chicago: A. T. Andreas, 1882.
- "History of Nebraska"
- "History of Nebraska State Government Organization"
Bibliography
- Berens, C. (2005) One house: The Unicameral's progressive vision for Nebraska. University of Nebraska Press.
Categories:- Nebraska Territory
- 1854 establishments
- 1864 disestablishments
- Territorial legislatures of the United States
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