Explore the gripping and historically significant story of Nelson Hackett with Dr. Michael Pierce, a distinguished historian from the University of Arkansas. This class dives into Hackett’s 1841 escape from Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he fled his owner, Alfred Wallace, with only a horse, saddle, coat, and watch. Hackett’s pursuit of freedom led him to Canada, but Wallace demanded his extradition on theft charges, triggering a complex international dispute that drew in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

In this immersive class, Dr. Pierce will guide participants through the primary documents of the Hackett case, examining how his forced return to slavery became a catalyst for change. Outraged abolitionists in the U.S. and UK rallied to prevent further extraditions of escaped slaves. Uncover the legacy of Hackett’s journey and its impact on abolitionist efforts and cross-border policies on human rights.