TALES OUT OF SCHOOL
October 2004
HISTORIC SITES–“BLEEDING KANSAS”
One of the primary goals of the Kansas State Historical
Society is to ensure that the heritage and culture of Kansas are preserved
and shared with generations to come. In addition to the Kansas Museum
of History in Topeka, the KSHS maintains sixteen historic sites throughout
the state. These sites can provide Kansas students an excellent opportunity
to learn about Kansas history in person. In the next couple of issues
of Tales Out of School, we will provide an overview of these sites.
Kansas was an important staging ground for what some people
argue were the first battles of the Civil War, because it was in Kansas in
the 1850s that the anti-slavery and pro-slavery supporters met. A brief
look at a Kansas time line for the 1850s illustrates how this occurred.
Because this was such a critical time in Kansas history, there are several
historic sites maintained by the Kansas State Historical Society that help
tell the story of “Bleeding Kansas.” In this issue of Tales Out of School
we will provide a brief description of these historic sites, a time line
for “Bleeding Kansas,” and some terms that you might work into your classroom
activities. If your school is located close enough to any of the sites,
you might consider scheduling a class trip to provide your students with
a close-up view of Kansas history.
The "squatter's sovereignty" policy, which was advocated
by Stephen A. Douglas, was a policy that said: “We'll decide whether Kansas
is going to be slave or free, when the people who settle in Kansas vote on
this question.” With that policy in effect it became very important as to
who settled in Kansas. So from Missouri the pro-slavery element tried to
get settlers who favored slavery to move into Kansas. Meanwhile, from
New York and New England the anti-slavery element was trying to get people
who favored Kansas as a free state to move into Kansas. Literally, the forces
of slavery and the forces of anti-slavery met in Kansas. And as a result
in 1854, 1855, and 1856, we have what is called "Bleeding Kansas." Thus,
the war between slavery and anti-slavery factions in the Kansas Territory
was a precursor of the Civil War that would begin in 1861.
Time Line–“Bleeding Kansas”
1850–Congress passed the Compromise of 1850. The
majority of Americans believed that it offered a workable solution to the
slavery question in the United States. It required citizens to assist
in the recovery of fugitive slaves. Texas would relinquish some disputed
land, but, in compensation, be given 10 million dollars–money it would use
to pay off its debt to Mexico. Also, the territories of New Mexico, Nevada,
Arizona, and Utah would be organized without mention of slavery. California
would be admitted as a free state.
December 1853–Augustus C. Dodge of Iowa introduced legislation
organizing the Nebraska Territory which includes the area that would be Kansas.
The legislation is referred to the Committee of Territories, chaired by Stephen
A. Douglas of Illinois.
May 30, 1854–Final form of the bill was a compromise crafted
by Douglas that provided that the slavery question in Kansas and Nebraska
would be decided by popular sovereignty. The legislation was signed
into law by President Franklin Pierce. Abolitionists from New England
made plans to settle in Kansas to fight against slavery.
November 1854–Believing that large numbers of Northerners
had moved to Kansas to vote as abolitionists, thousands of Southerners, many
from Missouri, crossed into Kansas to vote for a pro-slavery slate.
Pro-slavery forces won the election.
May, 30, 1855–There was an election to choose members
of the territorial legislature. Again, Missourians, or “Border Ruffians”
as they were often called, came into the state. Of the 6307 ballots
cast, only 791 were votes against slavery. The territorial legislature
enacted a law making it illegal to speak out against slavery. Shortly
thereafter the Northerners set up their own Free State Legislature.
President Pierce recognized only the pro-slavery legislature.
1856–Pro-slavery capital moved to Lecompton.
May 21, 1856–A pro-slavery group burned Free State Hotel,
destroyed printing presses, and looted homes in Lawrence. Abolitionist
John Brown retaliated by attacking and killing five at Pottawatomi Creek.
Violence and confrontations continued to escalate.
September 1856–New territorial governor John W. Geary
arrived in the state and began to restore order. He promised that Missouri
militia in the state would be disbanded. In November James Buchanan
was elected President.
1857–Robert Walker was appointed Territorial Governor.
For the next three years a series of territorial governors struggled to bring
order to Kansas Territory. They were Hugh S. Walsh (1858), James W.
Denver (1858), Samuel Medary (1858-60), and George M. Beebe (1860-61).
July 1859–After three previous attempts the 4th Constitutional
Convention adopted a free state constitution. Kansas applied for admittance
to the Union.
January 1861–Because of strong opposition from southern
states, Kansas was not admitted to the Union until 1861, after the South
had seceded.
Historic Kansas Sites–“Bleeding Kansas”
First Territorial Capitol–The First Territorial Capitol is located
in Ft. Riley, Kansas. It is a stone building located on an early military
trail. Andrew H. Reeder was the governor of Kansas Territory when the
first territorial legislature met in July 1855 in the town of Pawnee, adjacent
to Fort Riley. When legislators arrived, they found a building not
ready for occupancy. According to one member, “It had neither floor
nor roof.” Most of the legislators who came to that legislative session
were sympathetic to the pro-slavery cause. However, the election results
were suspect because many Missourians had crossed the line to vote in the
election. The building was not used long as the Capitol. Most
of the legislators were from border towns and they wanted the Capitol located
in the eastern part of the territory. Over the governor’s veto, they
voted to establish a temporary capital at the Shawnee Methodist Mission.
Today’s visitors to the First Territorial Capitol will
see a lovely stone building. In 1928 the building was restored by the
Union Pacific Railroad. There is also a Kaw River Nature Trail where
visitors can enjoy a scenic view of the Kansas River.
For specific information about visiting the site, visit
the web page for the Kansas State Historical Society at http://www.kshs.org/places/firstterritorial/index.htm
Constitution Hall–Constitution Hall is located off of I-70 and Highway
40 at 319 Elmore in Lecompton, Kansas. It was the site of historic
debates between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces prior to the Civil War.
In 1857 this building was one of the busiest in the territory, as thousands
of settlers and land speculators filed claims in the U.S. land office on
the first floor. On the second floor the district court met to try
to enforce territorial laws. In January 1857 the second territorial
legislative assembly met on the second floor. In the fall 1857 the
Lecompton Constitutional Convention met there to draft a constitution so
that Kansas could become a state. Because of the strong opinions on
both sides of the issue, no compromise on the slavery question was possible
and the Lecompton Constitution was defeated. After the October 1857
election, in which free-state forces gained control, the new territorial
legislature met again in Lecompton. They began the process of reforming
Kansas laws to reflect their own anti-slavery beliefs.
Visitors to the site today can visit the land claims office,
see the Lecompton Constitution, and learn more about the issue of slavery
in Kansas Territory.
For specific information about visiting the site see the
Kansas State Historical Society web page at http://www.kshs.org/places/constitution/index.htm
John Brown State Historic Site–The John Brown State Historic Site
is located at 10th & Main Street in Osawatomie, Kansas. The site
preserves a glimpse of the struggle to survive that settlers fought when
they came to Kansas. Samuel and Florella Adair moved to Kansas from
Ohio. Samuel Adair was a Congregational minister who struggled to start
a church that would become the first in Osawatomie and the third of its denomination
in Kansas. The couple set up housekeeping in a log cabin. Five
of John Brown’s sons followed the Adairs to Kansas. They came with
their families with hopes of a better life. John Brown came to Kansas
to help his sons. The tense atmosphere in Kansas was an ideal place
for a rabid abolitionist, which John Brown was, to act on his ideas.
For specific information about visiting the site see the
Kansas State Historical Society web page at http://www.kshs.org/places/johnbrown/index.htm
Marais des Cygnes Massacre State Historic Site–In May 1858 a group
of about thirty pro-slavery men, led by Charles Hamilton, crossed into Kansas.
After being seen at the Trading Post in the morning, they started back toward
Missouri. Along the way they captured eleven unarmed free-state men
who had no idea that Hamilton and his group meant them harm. However,
he and his men forced the free-staters into a ravine and Hamilton ordered
his men to fire. Five of the free-state men were killed. Hamilton
and his group departed quickly for Missouri. Only one, William Griffith,
was punished for the crime. This massacre became a pivotal event
in the prelude to the Civil War. John Greenleaf Whittier wrote a poem
on the murder, “Le Marais du Cygne,” which appeared in the September 1858
Atlantic Monthly.
For specific information about visiting the site see the
Kansas State Historical Society web page at http://www.kshs.org/places/marais/index.htm.
Terms of Enrichment
abolitionist
“Bleeding Kansas” “Bogus Legislature,”
“Bogus Laws” massacre
popular sovereignty
“Beecher’s Bibles” bushwhacker
jayhawker