Marriot Hotel Overland Park, Kansas August 12 - Sons of Union ...

“BLEEDING KANSAS” 1854-1861
In 1854, the United States Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Authored by Senator Stephen Douglas of
Illinois, the Act introduced the concept of popular sovereignty to the soon to be settlers of Kansas Territory. While
the issues of division and sectionalism certainly existed long before 1854, Kansas Territory would quickly see a
battle on the ground between the divergent ideals of slavery and free soil.
As soon as the act was passed, settlers from north and south made their way to the plains of Kansas. To
northerners, the Missouri Compromise of 1820 had clearly stated that lands north of the 36 degree 30 line would
prohibit slavery. Kansas Territory was north of that line and northerners should not have to re-argue and or fight for
that area. Both sides clearly feared an uneven balance. To Southerners, Kansas was a great opportunity. In 1820,
Missouri had entered the Union as a slave state, while Maine had been introduced as a free state. While all
Missourians did not support slavery, were aware that having a free state to their west was dangerous to the
continuance of the institution in any regard. Similarly, Missourians were aware that they would be bordered on
three sides by free states, Illinois, Iowa and now Kansas if it were to become a free state.
As the migrants began to come, they came from every region, but the early advantage in coverage and influence
went to the northerners and in the case of Lawrence, Kansas, the New Englanders. An early territorial election was
held and when over 2000 more votes were cast than the territory had citizens, Kansans screamed foul. Not to
mention, the election was won by pro-slavery candidates primarily. Kansans believed that Missourians had come
over voted and returned to their home state. Free-staters called the new legislature (although it was certified by the
President and U.S. Congress) a “bogus legislature” and set up their own.
Small acts of random violence poured over into larger ones and by 1856, Kansas was becoming an increasingly
dangerous place to live with communities being attacked by armed groups intending to persuade the other side to
leave.
In the summer of 1856, pro-slavery forces surrounded Lawrence, followed by the beating of U.S. Senator
Charles Sumner of Massachusetts after he gave a vitriolic speech on the floor of the senate about his southern
colleague Andrew Butler. When Butler’s nephew Preston Brooks attacked Sumner whose speech was entitled “The
Crimes Against Kansas,” each side had their respective view bolstered. In Kansas Territory, this violence and
seeming heavy handedness by Southerners infuriated one settler who felt like free-staters were being abused, killed
and evicted. His name was John Brown and in May 1856, he committed his most heinous act, marching down the
banks of Pottawatomie Creek and murdering 5 pro-slavery settlers. A Missouri army of 30 men pursued Brown and
on June 2 a battle occurred at Black Jack Creek along the Santa Fe Trail. Brown, using a ruse captured and defeated
Missouri forces under the command of Henry Clay Pate. Violence continued that summer until August when over
250 Missourians came to Brown’s hometown Osawatomie and burned the town, and killed several men including
Fred Brown, son of John Brown.
Violence continued off and on for four more years with both sides committing violent acts. Kansans, like
Brown would raid into Missouri, liberate slaves. This was a violation of the Fugitive Slave Laws and would of
course anger Missourians who deemed the slaves not as people but as property. Missourians would respond with
raids of their own into Kansas Territory. Other incidents that got national attention included the Marais des Cygnes
Massacre of 1858 in which 11 unarmed free-staters were marched to the banks of the Marais des Cygnes and shot.
While only five of the men died, the event was again shocking and made national headlines. John Greenleaf
Whittier’s poem about the event was printed throughout the nation.
Finally, the free-state side began to emerge and by 1859 a fourth and final attempt at a state constitution without
slavery was successful at Wyandotte. This constitution and government was not probably successful because of
compromise among the varying groups but because most southerners had left the territory.
In the meantime, old John Brown of Osawatomie had taken his war against slavery back east and with the help
of eastern backers known as the Secret Six attempted to start a slave rebellion at Harpers Ferry, WV (then Virginia).
Brown was captured and sentenced to be hanged at Charlestown on December 2. On the very day of his hanging, an
Illinois lawyer made a visit to Kansas and was ironically giving a speech that evening. Abraham Lincoln told his
Kansas audience:
“Old John Brown has just been executed for treason against a state. We cannot object even though he agreed
with us in thinking slavery was wrong. That cannot excuse violence, bloodshed and treason. It could avail him
nothing that he might think himself right. So, if constitutionally, we elect a President and therefore you undertake to
destroy the Union, it will be our duty to deal with you as old John Brown has been dealt with.”
Kansas entered the Union as a free-state, the 34th, on January 29, 1861.
Compiled by PDC Kenneth E. Spurgeon
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