Celia A Slave Summary

In the book “Celia, a slave”, Melton McLaurin talks about the life of a female slave named Celia. Celia commits a murder that impacts her life entirely. This occurred in Calloway County, Missouri among a very intense time in America. During the time, Kansas was in the controversy over if it would become a free or slave state. With all this commotion going on regarding Kansas, and a very controversial crime committed by Celia against her master caused a huge controversy in Kansas. McLaurin goes to some considerable detail to illustrate the trial, the effect of the political debate had, and the message Celia’s case sends out to the public. Celia was born in Missouri 1836, although, the exact date is not documented. The beginning of her historical record began in 1850, when she was purchased by Robert Newsom in Missouri at around fourteen years old at the time. The amount of slaves owned dictated the amount of status you have in slave states. At the time Newsom purchased Celia, he already owned five other slaves. We learn that after Newsom purchases Celia, …show more content…
Many people had their eyes set on Kansas. Abolitionist and slave supporters were trying to gather people to vote in Kansas by illegal approach. Abolitionist in New England attempted to persuade the vote in Kansas to be a free state government, while slaves in Missouri sneaked into state lines to have their voice be heard. Neither group was allowed to vote in Kansas. This did not stop them and lead to the division of two governments in Kansas. This new law greatly affected Celia’s trial and was an advantage to her. Missouri was greatly impacted by what was occurring in Kansas. “Within days after the residents of Callaway County learned of Celia’s indictment, and at approximately the same time that Jefferson Jones was permitted to question Celia…Missouri became yet more heated” (Mclaurin