Lectures in History Kentucky and Slavery: From Statehood to the Civil War
Jan 5, 2026
Melanie Goan, a history professor at the University of Kentucky specializing in slavery and state history, delves into Kentucky's complex relationship with slavery from its statehood in 1792 until the Civil War. She uncovers how early settlers debated slavery, the state’s unique role as a Union slaveholding border state, and notable abolitionist movements. Goan also highlights the economic significance of slavery, the violence during the Civil War, and the lasting impact on Kentucky's memory and identity, providing a nuanced view of a state caught between two worlds.
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Kentucky's Regional Transformation
- Kentucky shifted from being considered the West to being identified as Southern largely because of slavery and Civil War alignments.
- Melanie Goan argues slavery and postwar memory reshaped Kentucky's regional identity.
Slavery Was Embedded At Statehood
- Kentucky chose to protect slavery when it became a state in 1792 instead of abolishing it like some states did.
- Goan notes pro-slavery framers added constitutional protections that grew over time.
Middle-Class Slaveholding Pattern
- Kentucky's enslaved population in 1860 was about 19.5%, producing a 'middle class' pattern of many small holdings rather than massive plantations.
- Most enslaved people lived in households with few slaves, altering daily interactions of slavery in the state.
