Kansas-Nebraska Act/Bleeding Kansas 1854

By 1850, the Louisiana Purchase was … and sat as neither a territory or state so it was open to …

unsettled and mass migration

What ‘national’ reasons did Stephen Douglas have for the proposed Nebraska Bill in 1854?

Nebraska unlikely to become a slave state and Kansas was likely to spread slavery so balance of power kept and did not want settlement of west to be stalled by sectional division

What ‘Personal’ reasons did Stephen Douglas have for the proposed Nebraska Bill in 1854?

Presidential ambition, believed political capital to be gained, enhance reputation in Illinois through transcontinental railway, investment in railway

Why did Douglas need to **sell** the idea of organising Nebraska to Southerners?

Likely to go free soil due to climate and location but Kansas would be likely to go slave

How did Douglas make the proposal attractive to the south?

Created Kansas and repealed the Missouri compromise

Why were Northerners appalled at the bill?

Further proof of slave power conspiracy and repealing missouri compromise was unforgivable

What did Salmon chase say about the bill in his ‘appeal’ of **January 1854**? Quote

‘Gross violation of a sacred pledge’ and ‘criminal betrayal of precious rights’

What was northern reaction to the bill described as?

‘A hell of a storm’

Evidence of the bill sectionalising congress?

90% of southern congressmen voted for it and 64% of northern congressmen voted against it

Evidence that Douglas weakened his party and splintered it’s unity? (**Reviving North-south revival)**

44 democrats voted for it, 43 voted against it

What did Douglas replace the Missouri compromise line with?

Popular sovereignty

Why was there likely to be a permanent stalemate over making new states in unorganised territories? (**Impossible because of MC line)**

South would never vote through free soil states unless slave states created equally

What percentage of political opposItion to KN act was from the North?

91

Northern press reaction to KN act? **Northern newspaper quote**

‘A triumph of slavery and aristocracy over liberty and Republicanism’

Resolution of Missouri slave-owners **quote**

‘We pledge to extend the institutions of missouri over the territory at whatever sacrifice of blood’

Why were Kansas and Nebraska important?

South would have its symbol and North would have the land

When was KN act passed

30th May 1854

Why did the KN bill cause sectional division over the MC?

North denounced the bill because it repealed the Missouri compromise, and the south denounced it because it didn’t do so explicitly

what did Northerners see the Missouri compromise as?

The one guarantee that the slave power might be checked

What did congressional abolitionists sign against the KN Bill? (**‘A hurrican of rage swept the North’ and fought the bill relentlessly until it became law and then took it to law)**

A manifesto drafter by Salmon P. Chase

What did Douglas note on his return to Illinois in 1854? QUOTE

‘I could travel from Boston to Chicago by the light of my own effigy’

How was Douglas made aware of Northern fury?

Many hostile demonstrations and northern literature

What did the Kansas-Nebraska act bring forward (development feared since 1846)?

The rise of a new, exclusively northern party

In …, Michigan … anti-Nebraskan citizens met in a grove of oak trees and formed a … party. (**Then followed by examples in Massachussetts, Ohio, Wisconsin and Illinois)**

Jackson, 10,000, Republican

The party was a powerful … and by 1856 it had absorbed most of the old …, old … and the anti-Nebraska ….

magnet, whigs, free-spoilers, Democrats

Why did the rising Republican Party have no southern support?

It’s main principle was of implacable opposition to any further expansion or concession to the slavocracy

What formed as a rival to the Republicans?

The Know-Nothings

What too had split into North and south as early as 1845-46?

The methodist and baptist churches

What impact did the Massachusetts Emigran Aid Company have on Kansas by 1855?

Sponsored over 1500 northerners to settle in Kansas

What was formed by Senator Aitchson of Missouri that pledged to ensure that Kansas became a slave state?

The Platte County Defensive Association

What took place in Kansas in March 1855?

The first territorial legislature which would decide on the subject of slavery

Why did a pro-slavery legislature meet at Lecompton?

To pass a series of tough pro-slavery laws

How many missourians migrated over to Kansas to vote? (Compared to official 1,100)

thousands

What laws were passed to the outrage of Northerners in Lecompton?

A draconian slave code

What was threatened to anyone who questioned the legality of slavery in Kansas?

Imprisonment

What was set up at Topeka Kansas and why?

A free soil government that denied the validity of the pro slavery legislature

What was Topeka’s position on Black Americans? (**dominated by moderates)**

Total ban of black people

When was the town of Lawrence Kansas ‘sacked’ and buildings burnt down by a pro-slavery posse?

21st May 1856

When was Pottawatomie massacre?

24th May 1856

How did John Brown gain revenge for the sacking of Lawrence at Pottawatomie creek on 24th may 1856?

he and several of his sons murdered 5 proslavery settlers with broadswords

How did Northern press amp up emotions after John Brown?

Lawrence events blown out of proportion and John Brown defended as acting in self defence

Who benefitted the most from events of ‘Bleeding Kansas’ which became a rallying cry against the slave power at work?

The Republican Party

When was Senator Charles Sumner attack by congressmen Preston Brooks in the senate for making a speech attacking another southern senator?

May 1856

How was ‘Bleeding sumner’ (smashed cane) seen by Northerners? **Slave power at work**

using brute force to silence free speech

What were sumner and brooks seen as respectively?

Northern Martyr and southern hero

How was Preston brooks punished for ‘Bleeding sumner’?

Fined $300, but not arrested and re-elected in congress

How were Senator Aitchson and thousands of other Missourians able to vote in **March 1855?**

They rode into Kansas and drew pistols on anyone who challenged them

How many of the … votes from proslavers at the March 1855 Kansas elections were fraudulent? (**Only 791 free spoilers voted - apathetic reaction in protest)**

5,247 and 4,968

How did President pierce respond to the chaos in Kansas? (**consequence —> Democratic support in North goes to other parties)**

Ignored all complaints about Lecompton, refused to accept Topeka legislature and sacked Governor Andrew Reeder as he was sympathetic to free-soilers

How many people died over Kansas in 1856?

200

What was destroyed by the sacking of Lawrence?

Two printing presses, pillaged stores and burned houses

What did Bleeding Kansas do to politics and what is it seen as (no more common ground)?

Totally polarised it and was the ultimate spark

Why did Preston Brooks attack Sumner in May 1856?

He delivered a attack on Senator Andrew Butler by comparing his views on Kansas to the rape of a virgin

By … it was clear that … outnumbered pro slavery residents in Kansas

1857, free soilers

How many of the eligible 9000 free soilers registered to vote in the convention of 1857 that would redicide the Kansas legislature?

Only 1200

What did Northern democrats do about the James Buchanan’s (democrat president) fraudulent actions in Kansas? **(Democrats now split north and south)**

Savagely criticised the president

What threat did Southern newspapers urge Buchanan to support the Lecompton constitution with?

‘Lecompton or disunion’

When did governer walker of Kansas resign in protest after Buchanan’s bow to southern pressure in Kansas?

December 1857

1857 Despite huge patronage pressure from Buchanan, enough northern democrats voted against the pro slavery constitution —> Defeat … votes to …?

113 to 100

When was a new vote in Kansas held where a free soil victory was gained with 11,300 voting against the Lecompton constitution and only 1780 for?

August 1858

When did Kansas join the Union as a free state?

January 1861