Fact check: Was Oregon one of the last states in which slavery was legal?

1. Summary of the results

The question of whether Oregon was "one of the last states in which slavery was legal" requires important clarification about what type of slavery is being referenced. The analyses reveal a complex historical picture:

Traditional chattel slavery was actually prohibited early in Oregon's history. The Provisional Government of Oregon passed a law in 1843 that prohibited slavery ^[1]. However, Oregon had a deeply racist foundation, beginning as a "whites-only state" with exclusionary laws designed to discourage Black Americans from living in the territory and later state ^{[2] [3]}.

Constitutional slavery as punishment for crime persisted until very recently. Oregon's constitution contained language allowing for slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime until voters passed Measure 112 to remove this language ^{[4] [5]}. This makes Oregon one of the last states to constitutionally prohibit all forms of slavery, as approximately 20 state constitutions still have exception clauses allowing slavery or involuntary servitude as punishment for crime ^[6].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about the distinction between different types of slavery that existed in American history. While Oregon prohibited traditional plantation-style slavery in 1843, it maintained constitutional provisions for penal slavery until recent years ^{[4] [5]}.

Oregon's unique racial exclusion system is missing from the question entirely. Rather than relying on slavery, Oregon implemented Black exclusion laws and constitutional clauses specifically designed to prevent Black people from entering or remaining in the territory and state ^{[1] [7] [8]}. This created a "whites-only state" that achieved racial exclusion through different mechanisms than traditional slave states.

The question also omits the recent nature of constitutional changes. Oregon was among states voting on amendments to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude as recently as the 2020s, indicating that constitutional slavery provisions persisted much longer than many people realize ^[6].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question contains potential for misleading interpretation by not specifying which form of slavery is being discussed. If interpreted as asking about traditional chattel slavery, the answer would be definitively no - Oregon prohibited this early in its territorial period. However, if asking about constitutional slavery as punishment for crime, Oregon was indeed among the last states to prohibit this practice.

The framing may also minimize Oregon's unique approach to racial exclusion. By focusing solely on slavery, the question overlooks Oregon's systematic exclusion laws that were arguably more comprehensive than slavery in preventing Black settlement and participation in society ^{[7] [8]}.

Additionally, the question lacks temporal specificity, which could lead to confusion about whether it refers to the Civil War era, the 20th century, or recent constitutional amendments. This ambiguity could result in dramatically different but technically correct answers depending on interpretation.