bleeding kansas

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854):

• Repealed the Missouri Compromise.

• Senator Atchison (Missouri): Declared Kansas must become a slave state or slavery would be lost.

Seward supported Kansas as a free state.

Migration to Kansas:

• Free-Soilers settled in Topeka, Manhattan, and Lawrence.

• Pro-slavery settlers moved to Lecompton, Leavenworth, and Atchison.

Massachusetts Immigrant Aid Company (1854): Sponsored 650 settlers in 1854, 1,000 in 1855.

Kansas’ First Territorial Legislature (March 1855):

• Border Ruffians swayed vote in favor of pro-slavery.

Pro-slavery government in Lecompton won 29-10 in fair elections.

Lecompton vs. Topeka Governments:

• Lecompton (pro-slavery) recognized by federal government (24 Jan 1856).

Legislature passed pro-slavery laws: Abolitionists imprisoned, Free-Soilers couldn’t hold office.

Sacking of Lawrence (21 May 1856):

• Pro-slavery posse (led by Samuel Jones) arrested Free-Soil leaders.

• Burned down Free-Soil newspaper and Free-Soil leader Robinson’s house.

• One pro-slavery supporter died.

Northern media exaggerated event.

Bleeding Sumner (May 1856):

• Charles Sumner’s ‘Crime Against Kansas’ speech attacked Andrew Butler in a sexualized metaphor: “rape of virgin territory.”

• Preston Brooks (Butler’s cousin) caned Sumner on the Senate floor.

• Reactions:

  • North outraged.

  • South praised Brooks (gifts of canes, re-election).

Brooks resigned (July 15), re-elected (Aug 1).

Pottawatomie Creek Massacre (25 May 1856):

• John Brown & 6 others murdered 5 pro-slavery settlers in the night.

Praised by Northern newspapers as self-defense.

Battle of Black Jack (2 June 1856):

• Brown & 29 followers fought pro-slavery Henry Pate.

Brown won, took Pate & 22 others hostage.