Bleeding Kansas: Kansas was next in line to join the Union, but would it enter free or slave? The violence that broke out there was a preview of the greater civil war to come.In the fall of 1854, Andrew H. Reeder arrived in Kansas to take office as the territory's first Governor. Until then, there hadn't been much to govern. The whole territory held little more than 1,000 white people, along with its Indian population. But this vast prairie was fast becoming the most hotly fought-over land in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. . That summer, bands of proslavery pro·slav·er·y adj. Advocating the practice of slavery. settlers from Missouri had crossed into Kansas to declare the territory a slave state. They were followed by "flee-soil" pioneers. Many came by wagon train wagon train, in U.S. history, a group of covered wagons used to convey people and supplies to the West before the coming of the railroad. The wagon replaced the pack, or horse, train in land commerce as soon as proper roads had been built. from New England New England, name applied to the region comprising six states of the NE United States—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The region is thought to have been so named by Capt. , determined to ban slavery in their new home. As the opposing sides settled in, they prepared for battle. The resulting conflict would give the territory the name "Bleeding Kansas Bleeding Kansas Term applied to a period of civil unrest (1854–59) between proslavery and antislavery advocates for control of the new Kansas Territory. Under the doctrine of popular sovereignty, antislavery emigrants from the North clashed with armed proslavery ," leave dozens dead, and bring the entire country one step closer to civil war. UNEASY COMPROMISES Early in the existence of the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , the slave states of the South and the free states those of the United States before the Civil War, in which slavery had ceased to exist, or had never existed. - Abbott. See also: Free of the North found ways to get along. The big problem was what to do when new states joined the Union. In 1820, Congress worked out the Missouri Compromise Missouri Compromise, 1820–21, measures passed by the U.S. Congress to end the first of a series of crises concerning the extension of slavery. . The agreement allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state. In all future states, slavery would be prohibited north of latitude 36[degrees] 30', Missouri's southern border. New states that lay south of the line would become slave states. The Compromise of 1850 settled another squabble squab·ble intr.v. squab·bled, squab·bling, squab·bles To engage in a disagreeable argument, usually over a trivial matter; wrangle. See Synonyms at argue. n. A noisy quarrel, usually about a trivial matter. over land the U.S. received after the Mexican War Mexican War, 1846–48, armed conflict between the United States and Mexico. Causes While the immediate cause of the war was the U.S. annexation of Texas (Dec., 1845), other factors had disturbed peaceful relations between the two republics. . It allowed California to enter as a free state. But the bigger fight loomed. Then, in 1853, Democratic Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois introduced legislation in Congress to organize the large Nebraska Territory The Nebraska Territory was a historic organized territory of the United States from May 30, 1854 until March 1, 1867 when Nebraska became the 37th U.S. state. It was established by the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. The territorial capital was Omaha. . Douglas also had another motive. The country was planning to build a transcontinental railroad transcontinental railroad, in U.S. history, rail connection with the Pacific coast. In 1845, Asa Whitney presented to Congress a plan for the federal government to subsidize the building of a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific. to California. Douglas wanted a northern route and an eastern terminus (end point) in the city of Chicago. A lot of money was at stake. To secure this deal, Douglas needed the support of a powerful group of Southern Senators. These men were set against a free-soil Nebraska. Senator David R. Atchison from proslavery Missouri said he would defend slavery "with the bayonet bayonet Short, sharp-edged, sometimes pointed weapon, designed for attachment to the muzzle of a firearm. According to tradition, it was developed in Bayonne, France, early in the 17th century and soon spread throughout Europe. and with blood." Douglas's deal with the Southerners was the Kansas-Nebraska Act Kansas-Nebraska Act, bill that became law on May 30, 1854, by which the U.S. Congress established the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. By 1854 the organization of the vast Platte and Kansas river countries W of Iowa and Missouri was overdue. of 1854. The act repealed (did away with) the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and established popular sovereignty--a principle that allowed states and territories to decide whether to permit slavery. The act also divided Nebraska into two parts. The southern part, lying next to Missouri, was to be called Kansas. (See map, p. 23.) Northerners howled in protest. "The crime is committed," wrote the Evening Journal of Albany, New York For other uses, see Albany. Albany is the capital of the State of New York and the county seat of Albany County. Albany lies 136 miles (219 km) north of New York City, and slightly to the south of the juncture of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. . "The work of [James] Monroe and [James] Madison and [Thomas] Jefferson is undone.... Slavery crawls, like a slimy reptile over the ruins...." Douglas didn't care about the howling. He and his allies had their votes, and the act passed Congress on May 30, 1854. BATTLE AT THE POLLS In Kansas, the race was on to get the most settlers in place. Northern abortionists (those opposing slavery) organized the New England Emigrant EMIGRANT. One who quits his country for any lawful reason, with a design to settle elsewhere, and who takes his family and property, if he has any, with him. Vatt. b. 1, c. 19, Sec. 224. Aid Society, which promised to send 20,000 free-soil settlers to Kansas every year. But Missourians were closer--and no less determined. "We are playing for a mighty stake," said Senator Atchison. He and his followers were prepared to play dirty. In March 1855, Kansans went to the polls to elect delegates to a territorial legislature. The Missourians offered "free ferry, a dollar a day, and liquor" to anyone who would cross the border and vote illegally. The night before the election, a ragged assortment of men crossed the Missouri River Missouri River River, central U.S. The longest tributary of the Mississippi River, it rises in the Rocky Mountains of southwestern Montana. It flows east to central North Dakota and south across South Dakota, forming sections of the South Dakota–Nebraska boundary, the . Armed with guns and knives, these "border ruffians" pushed aside judges at the polls and elected 36 proslavery legislators out of a total of 39. "ALL HAIL all hail interj. Used to express acclamation, a welcome, or a greeting. ! Proslavery Party Victorious!" announced the proslavery Herald of Leavenworth, Kansas “Leavenworth” redirects here. For other uses, see Leavenworth (disambiguation). Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and is located near (about 30 miles from) Kansas City, Missouri. . "Come on, Southern men! Bring your slaves, and fill up the Territory." Governor Reeder, who had once sympathized with the proslavery forces, was disgusted. He ordered new elections. Free-soilers, who actually outnumbered proslavery settlers, won most of the seats. But the territorial legislature refused to recognize them. When Reeder protested to President Franklin Pierce, the President simply replaced him as Governor. AN EYE FOR AN EYE The legislature quickly passed harsh laws making it a crime to even speak out against slavery. Outraged, free-soilers formed a separate government. Then they armed for a fight, importing dozens of Sharps rifles from New England in boxes marked "books." The fight came soon enough. On May 21, 1856, a proslavery federal marshal assembled a posse of about 800, which stormed the free-soil town of Lawrence. The men looted stores, destroyed two newspaper offices, and burned the Free State Hotel to the ground, hacking 300 books to pieces for good measure. A fanatical abolitionist named John Brown estimated that five free-soilers had been murdered by proslavery forces. He swore an eye-for-an-eye revenge. On the night of May 24, Brown gathered together a raiding party that included four of his sons. The group stole into a proslavery settlement on Pottawatomie Creek, dragged five settlers from their cabins, and killed them in cold blood. The Pottawatomie Massacre, as it was called, unleashed a bloody civil war in Kansas. Raiding parties on both sides burned homes, stole cattle, and murdered enemies. Farmers started working the fields in armed groups. When strangers met they asked each other: "Free-soil or Slave?" More than 50 people were killed in the months to come. Around the country, in newspapers and speeches--and in nervous and angry households--"Bleeding Kansas" became a symbol of the nation's own wounds. INTO CIVIL WAR President Pierce, seeking to stop the bloodshed in Kansas, appointed a new Governor, John W. Geary John White Geary (December 30, 1819 – February 8, 1873) was a lawyer, politician (the final alcalde and first mayor of San Francisco, governor of the Kansas Territory, and governor of Pennsylvania), and Union general in the American Civil War. . But the Governor had no success against the proslavery legislature. Nor did his replacement, Robert J. Walker
Robert John Walker (July 23, 1801 – November 11, 1869) was an American economist and statesman. . The legislature blocked Walker's efforts to hold a public referendum (vote) on the state constitution. In February 1858, Kansas sent a proslavery constitution to Washington, D.C., for approval. The debate in Congress ended in a brawl, with 50 legislators swinging at each other in the aisles. Finally, the House rejected the constitution by eight votes. "All things here," observed Georgia Congressman Alexander H. Stephens, "are tending my mind to the conclusion that the Union cannot and will not last long." Stephens was on the right track. Kansas finally became a free state on January 29, 1861. By then, Abraham Lincoln had been elected President, and six Southern states had already seceded (withdrawn). On April 12, Southern troops in South Carolina South Carolina, state of the SE United States. It is bordered by North Carolina (N), the Atlantic Ocean (SE), and Georgia (SW). Facts and Figures Area, 31,055 sq mi (80,432 sq km). Pop. (2000) 4,012,012, a 15. opened fire on the federal garrison at Fort Sumter, and the entire country followed Kansas into civil war.
TIME LINE: THE FIGHT FOR KANSAS
1803 The U.S. purchases the Louisiana Territory from France, which
includes the future Nebraska Territory.
1818 Missouri petitions for entrance to the Union as a slave state.
1820 Congress passes the Missouri Compromise, marking a border
between future slave and free states.
1848 The U.S. wins the Mexican War, adding most of the American
Southwest to the country.
1850 The Compromise of 1850 allows a future popular vote over
slavery in the New Mexico and Utah territories.
1854 The Kansas-Nebraska Act becomes law, repealing the Missouri
Compromise of 1820.
1856 Proslavery forces plunder Lawrence, Kansas. John Brown's
revenge helps spur "Bleeding Kansas."
1858 Congress rejects the first Kansas state constitution, which is
proslavery. The following year, after three more tries, Kansas
adopts a free-state constitution.
1861 Kansas is admitted to the Union as a free state on January 29.
On April 12, the Civil War begins.
Your Turn
WORD MATCH
1. secede A. do away with
2. terminus B. one who opposed slavery
3. repeal C. end point
4. abolitionist D. vote
5. referendum E. withdraw
THINK ABOUT IT
Suggest ways that the pro- and antislavery settlers in
Kansas could have resolved their differences peacefully.
AMERICAN HISTORY Bleeding Kansas * OBJECTIVE Students should understand * the issue during the 1850s of whether to allow slavery in Kansas led to violent conflict that anticipated the American Civil War American Civil War or Civil War or War Between the States (1861–65) Conflict between the U.S. federal government and 11 Southern states that fought to secede from the Union. . * TEACHING STRATEGY Ask students: "What do you think was the political impact of slavery in the U.S. in the years before the Civil War?" * BACKGROUND Many of the Northerners who settled in Kansas were not abolitionists. These "free-soilers" demanded territory for white people. They opposed slavery not so much out of concern for enslaved Enslaved may refer to:
* CRITICAL THINKING COMPREHENSION: Why did Stephen A. Douglas negotiate the Kansas-Nebraska Act? (Douglas wanted to organize Nebraska Territory largely to secure a profitable railroad venture for Illinois. Achieving this required striking a deal with powerful Southern Senators.) NOTING DETAILS: How was the federal government ineffective in dealing with the conflict in Kansas? (President Pierce replaced Andrew H. Reeder as Governor after Reeder tried to overturn the fraudulent vote that elected a proslavery legislature in Kansas. None of the President's future appointees to the post managed to settle the slavery issue. As Congress discussed Kansas's proslavery constitution in February 1858, the debate grew so heated that a brawl broke out among the legislators.) * ACTIVITY BLOODY DAYS: Instruct students to create fictional journal entries of someone living in Kansas during the 1850s. Students can choose to write from the point of view of a flee-soil or a proslavery settler. STANDARDS SOCIAL STUDIES, GRADES 5-8 * Culture: How slavery was a critical political, economic, and social concern in the U.S. during the westward expansion of the 1850s. * Individuals, groups, and institutions: How free-soilers, proslavery forces, and abolitionists struggled in the 1850s to determine whether Kansas would become a slave or free state. RESOURCES * Zeinert, Karen, Tragic Prelude: Bleeding Kansas (Shoe String Press, 2001. Grades 6-8. * McMullan, Kate, For This Land: Meg's Prairie Diary (Scholastic, 2003). Grades 5-8. WEB SITES * Fort Scott National Historic Site Fort Scott National Historic Site: see National Parks and Monuments (table). nps.gov/fosc/bleeding.htm * Africans in America--Judgment Day pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/title.html Word Match, p. 23 1. E 2. C 3. A 4. B 5. D |
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