What do you think this is? Uses?

What do you think this is? Uses?Child and Adult Shackles

Chapter 4Kansas Territory

The Saga of Bleeding Kansas

About the Chapter

Time: 1820-1861People to Know:

◦ David Rice Atchison◦ John Brown◦ Ann Clark◦ Stephen A. Douglas◦ Samuel Jones◦ James Lane◦ Abraham Lincoln

◦ Clarina Nichols◦ Andrew H. Reeder◦ Charles Robinson◦ Charles Sumner◦ John Greenleaf

About the Chapter Cont.

Words to Understand

AbolitionistAntislaveryBorder ruffianBushwhackerDemographicExpansionistFree-stater Indentured servant JayhawkerMartyr

Popular sovereigntyProslaveryRepealSiegeServitudeSpeculatorTranscontinentalTreasonUnconstitutional

Back Ground Info

Slavery has threatened to tear the country apart

Kansans were given the right to choose the outcome of slavery in the state

Violence did break out over the issue.“Bleeding Kansas” is one cause of the civil

war.

The Missouri Compromise

• 22 states split evenly• Allowed for 2 more states• Maine- Free• Missouri- Slave

• Banned slavery in the lands of the Louisiana Purchase north of 36,30’ north latitude• Includes Kansas

Compromise of 1850

Southern states were still not happyCalifornia petitioned to be a free state

which would trip the balance.Compromise of 1850 was the answer

◦California admitted as a free state but the Fugitive Slave Act had to be admitted. All citizens were required to assist in the recovery

of runaway slaves, and fugitive slaves were denied the right of a jury trial

The Kansas-Nebraska Act

Douglas got the Kansas-Nebraska Act passed◦was an expansionist◦Anxious to organize the Louisiana purchase into

territoriesRepealed the Missouri Compromise

◦Said state could choose—called popular sovereignty

Settling the Territory

Idea of popular sovereignty brought people from both sides of the slavery issue

Most thought that Kansas would be a slave state and Nebraska a free state because Missouri (slave state) was just east of Kansas.

For or Against?

People were either proslavery and antislavery

Those who believed that slavery was immoral and should be abolished without delay were abolitionist◦Not all antislavery people were abolitionists,

some people just did not want to see slavery expanded. Those people were called free-staters

For or Against? Cont.

Most who came to settle in Kansas came from nearby states.

Many came from Missouri◦Proslavery leaders urged their people to settle

Kansas to discourage the presence of a free state on the Missouri border Proslavery groups founded Atchison and gained

power in Leavenworth Antislavery groups took over Leavenworth,

founded Lawrence and Topeka.

Counting the People of the Territory

Andrew H. Reeder◦ 1st Territorial Governor◦ Ordered the 1st Kansas Census

Did not count soldiers unless they planned on settling in Kansas Did not count Indians

1st Federal Census◦ 1860◦ 107,209 people◦ 12% of population was foreign born most from British Isles or Germany◦ Only 2 slaves◦ 625 Free African Americans◦ 189 American Indians◦ Only 2 communities were called cities by U.S. government,

Leavenworth and Atchison all others were too small

How Do We Know This?

U.S.. Government has gathered census data since 1790◦ Every decade◦ Count people and collect basic data about them◦ Info gathered gives us important demographic characteristics of the

population Knowing the number of people and where they live is a crucial part

of our government◦ # of Representatives a state has◦ How resources are distributed

Ex: Federal funding for Education Tells us where someone comes from What type of work they did When they were born If a child attended school Help to show how communities change over time.

Why Did They Come

Most came for cheap land and economic opportunities Land could be obtained through the Preemption Act

◦ An individual could claim up to 160 acres◦ Obligated to pay $1.25 per acre once a public land survey was

complete As towns developed, shares were sold to investors.

◦ Some were settlers◦ Others were absentee speculators◦ All investors wanted a profit, although shares were sold for many

towns not all grew. Example p.76 Ellen Goodnow and husband brought 200

people to what is current day Manhattan.◦ Goodnow’s were motivated to end slavery, but not all settlers came

for a cause

Proslavery Voices

Wanted slavery in Kansas because of the economic opportunities and to preserve the southern way of life.

Envisioned a new territory where southern farmers could prosper

Felt if slavery were banned in Kansas this would threatened slavery in other parts of the country.◦Specifically along the Kansas/Missouri border

where 20% of the Missouri slaves were located.

Antislavery Voices

Antislavery forces wanted to take a stand in Kansas Territory◦ Antislavery forces came because:

Fight against slavery Thought slavery was morally wrong Believed it gave slaveholders an unfair economic advantage

Many thought proslavery South was moving the U.S. government toward legalizing slavery on a national level (thought supported by Dred Scott Case)

Women played a major role in the Antislavery movement.◦ 1830’s image on p.77 was used in needlework, publications, and

on writing paper to promote the antislavery movement in America

David Rice Atchison

U.S. senator from MissouriLived close to the Kansas border“The prosperity or the ruin of the whole South

depends on the Kansas struggle.”Encouraged Missourians to cross the border

and illegally vote in Kansas elections to help sway the outcomes

Asked for money, moral support, and proslavery settlers to come to the Kansas Territory

Dred Scott

Slave who sued the government for his freedom. (1857)

U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Scott and all African Americans, free or slave, were not citizens of the United States.

Supreme Court went farther to say it was unconstitutional for the U.S. government to prohibit slavery in the territories

Emigrant Aid Societies

Some antislavery advocates came as individuals and others as groups◦New England Emigrant Aid Company

Received both financial and moral support form prominent New England abolitionists

Placed ads in newspapers hoping to attract potential settlers to Kansas Territory

Settlers traveled in groups at a reduced rate Groups as small as 8 and large as 389 came to Kansas with the

Company’s help Once in Kansas settlers were directed to available land Money was raised to help settlers construct public buildings, like

hotels and businesses. Invested in newspapers to spread their cause

Lane’s Army of the North

James Lane◦U.S. representative from Indiana◦Voted for Kansas-Neb. Act◦Moved to Kansas Territory and fought against

slavery◦Called slave owners “wolves, snakes, devils”◦Organized 400 settlers from the north to come

to the Kansas Territory. Called Lane’s Army of the North

Slavery in Kansas

In the Kansas Territory slavery did occur but on a much smaller level than in the south◦Most slave holders in KS had 1 or 2 slaves◦Most slaves were women or children who

preformed domestic duties not hard labor farmingRead the Note from Marcus Lindsay

Freeman, a slave brought to KS when he was 59 years old. (p.80)◦In his own words how can you tell that he was not

treated like a free man?

Ann Clark and the Underground Railroad

As a class we will read Ann’s story on p.81 of the text book

Bleeding Kansas

About 50 people lost their lives during the territorial period

Many more were injured or lost property

Acts of Wars

Killing of a free-stater started what became known as the “Wakarusa War”◦Proslavery supporters arrested a man attending a

free-slave meeting◦Other free-slave supporters came to his rescue but

the Sheriff of Douglas county Samuel Jones, southern sympathizer, deemed it a “lawless action”

◦This scarred people in Lawrence who prepared for an attack.

◦For a week Lawrence was under siege this became known as the Wakarusa War.

Acts of War Cont.

Wakarusa War◦Proslavery forces blocked supplies from

reaching Lawrence.◦One story has two woman making a daring

attempt to bring ammo through the blockade by sewing it into their petticoats.

◦A big battle never came but the media ran wild with the story and exaggerated the Wakarusa War.

Acts of War Cont.

Lawrence residents were very outspoken and the newspapers very critical of proslavery leaders◦So the proslavery grand jury deemed these newspapers

nuisances and Sheriff Jones entered the town with a group of armed men and attacked

◦Burned down two newspaper offices, Charles Robinson’s house and multiple businesses were destroyed

◦2 people were killed and Sheriff Jones was quoted saying “This is the happiest day of my life, I assure you.”

All of this made Nat’l News.

Beecher Bibles

Guns carried by proslavery forces were squirrel rifles, heavy buffalo guns, or army muskets.

Antislavery forces had access to superior Sharps carbine rifles◦Called “Beecher Bibles”

Named for Henry Ward Beecher and abolitionist preacher from Connecticut

His followers founded the Beecher Bible and Rifle Colony.

Settlers brought both bibles and rifles to Kansas some rifles in boxes labeled “books” so as not to be detected

The Pottawatomie Massacre

John Brown assaulted proslavery settlers after hearing the assault on Lawrence was over◦5 proslavery men were killed near the

Pottawatomie creek in Franklin County◦Caused many other skirmishes to occur◦The last was 2 years later when 11 free-state

supporters were kidnapped by a group of proslavery men. 5 were killed 5 wounded and 1 survived by pretending to be dead.

John Brown 1800-1859

AbolitionistDeeply religiousWilling to use violence to end the shame of

slavery immediately.After the Pottawatomie Massacre he was a

Nat’l figure◦Also defended the town of Osawatomie when

Missourians attacked itHelped slaves escape before coming to

Kansas

John Brown Cont.1800-1859

Would ride in Missouri and attack proslavery farms◦One time he siezed the property and freed 11 slaves◦Traveled 82 days and over 1,000 miles to transport

slaves the slaves to CanadaRaised money for gunsAfter he left Kansas he led a raid on the federal

arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia◦Goal was to get weapons to arm slaves◦Caught tried and convicted of teason◦He was hung and became a martyr for the abolitionist

cause

Politics

Politics in Kansas were chaotic◦Election fraud was common◦10 different territorial governors served in 7

years◦4 different constitutions were written◦At one point 2 separate governments were

working at the same time

Election Fraud

President Pierce appointed Andrew Reeder to be the 1st Territorial Governor in Kansas◦Reeder believed in popular sovereignty.◦1st Kansas Election- 1854

U.S. Delegate John W. Whitfield elected

◦Proslavery◦Believed majority of votes from Border Ruffians

◦1st Legislative Election More Border Ruffians “Bogus Legislature”

The First Territorial Legislature

Met in Pawnee◦ Why Pawnee

Far away from Missouri Reeder was an investor

◦ Capital Building No roof, floor, windows, or doors

◦ Most legislators stayed in tents Reeder’s Goals

◦ Establish counties◦ Setting up a judicial system◦ Levying taxes◦ Organizing a militia

Other Needs for the Legislator◦ Determine permanent seat of government◦ Create a constitution◦ Decide if Kansas is a free or slave state

The First Territorial Legislature Cont.

Kansas Legislator◦4 days in Pawnee

Kicked out all the antislavery members Government moved to Shawnee Mission

◦Closer to Missouri◦Reeder removed by Pierce

Slave Code Passed◦ Illegal to speak against slavery in territory◦Angered antislavery people

Started their own government

Writing a Constitution

To be a state◦Constitution was needed◦Constitution approved by U.S. Congress

Constitutional Conventions◦Topeka◦Lecompton◦Leavenworth◦Wyandotte

The Topeka Constitution

A reaction to election fraud◦2 government

Free-state- Topeka Proslavery- Shawnee Mission

Topeka Constitution◦Who Voted?

White males Civilized Indians who assimilated

◦Anti-slavery◦African-Americans could not live in Kansas

Questions of Approval◦0 proslavery votes◦ legality

Lecompton Constitution

Bogus LegislatureWritten in LecomptonLecompton Constitution Vote

◦New free-state Legislature◦Not allowed to vote for entire constitution

w/ or w/out slavery◦Confusing Ballot

Outlawed slavery Protected current slave owners

Lecompton Constitution Cont.

Constitution Passed◦ Residents angered◦ Free-stater’s refused to vote

Another vote called◦ By Free-state Legislature◦ Defeated

James Buchanan◦ President of U.S.◦ Presented Constitution to Congress◦ Recommended slave state

Popular Sovereignty?◦ Congresses Question

Was Lecompton Constitution the will of the people in Kansas? Sent back to Kansas

Defeated Vote Again

Leavenworth Constitution

AntislaveryAll men could vote

◦Eliminated word “white”◦Included Indians

Constitution PassedFailed in U.S. Congress

The Wyandotte Constitution and Statehood

Free state ConstitutionRestrictions

◦Most voting rights◦Militia service

Improved women’s rightsSlowed in U.S. Congress

◦Main Issue: Slavery◦Southern Stated seceded◦Kansas Admitted as Free state

Charles Robinson1818-1894

Leader of the Free-state movementElected Governor after Topeka Constitution

◦Not recognized by slavery supporters◦Arrested for treason and conspiracy◦Jailed in Lecompton◦Acquitted

Elected again after Wyandotte Constitution1st Governor of the State of Kansas

The Caning of Senator Charles Sumner

Charles Sumner◦Anti-slavery◦Senator◦Republican◦“Crime Against Kansas”

Called out 2 Democratic Senators ◦ Stephan Douglas

Called a “noise-some, squat, and nameless animal…not a proper model for an American senator.”

Kansas-Neb. Act◦ Andrew Butler

South Carolina Proslavery

The Caning of Senator Charles Sumner Cont.

Rep. Preston Brooks◦Remarks ungentlemanly◦Unforgivable◦From South Carolina◦Brought a cane to Sumner’s Chambers and

beat him unconscious Sumner could not resume work for 3 years

Clarina Nichols

AbolitionistNew England Emigrant Aid SocietyAttended Wyandotte Constitutional

Convention as a guestWomen’s rights

◦child custody◦voice in education◦property rights

Everyday Life in the Territory

Poorer Quality of LifeFew Doc’s and dentistsBrutal wintersSevere droughtsP.93 read Thaddeus Hyatts comments to

the President about the conditions in Kansas (Italicized section)

The Pony Express

18 monthsSt. Joseph, Missouri and

Sacramento, CaliforniaRelay fashion riding

◦ 33 mile rides◦ Horses changed every

10-15 milesCost $5 (many earned

less then a $1/day)Transcontinental

telegraph