bleeding kansas

The Context of Bleeding Kansas

  • After the Kansas-Nebraska Act, settlers on both proslavery and antislavery sides poured into the Kansas territory to dominate local elections.

  • Both factions armed themselves, leading to widespread violence and acts of terrorism, pushing the conflict towards a civil war.

  • This period became known as "Bleeding Kansas," highlighting the extreme stakes of the struggle:

    • If antislavery forces prevailed, Kansas would become a free territory under popular sovereignty.

    • If proslavery forces won, Kansas would become a slave territory.

Arrival of Proslavery Forces

  • A flyer from 1856 encouraged proslavery Missourians to invade Kansas and form militias against abolitionists.

  • This exemplifies the aggressive tactics used by proslavery activists to consolidate power and instill fear among antislavery settlers.

Charles Sumner's Speech

  • On May 1856, Senator Charles Sumner from Massachusetts delivered a speech titled "The Crime Against Kansas."

  • Sumner criticized the Kansas-Nebraska Act and its supporters, particularly Stephen Douglas, linking the resulting violence to Douglas’s doctrine of popular sovereignty.

  • He directly insulted Southern Democrats, notably targeting Senator Andrew Butler from South Carolina, accusing him of associating with slavery in a derogatory manner:

    • Sumner’s inflammatory language likened slavery to a "harlot," a potent insult that enraged the Southern political establishment.

Reaction from the South

  • Sumner's statements and the accusations were perceived as attacks on Southern honor due to the sensitive nature of sexual exploitation of enslaved women.

  • Congressman Preston Brooks, Butler’s relative, sought to defend Butler’s honor.

The Attack on Sumner

  • On May 22, 1856, when the Senate chamber was largely empty, Brooks confronted Sumner:

    • Brooks struck Sumner down with a gold-headed cane, a weapon symbolizing the defense of Southern honor.

    • Despite attempts to help, Brooks’ ally prevented interference, and Sumner was brutally beaten until he collapsed.

    • Recovery for Sumner took three years due to the severity of his injuries.

Polarization of the North and South

  • The violent assault on Sumner greatly intensified Northern outrage against Southern aggression.

  • Following the incident, the Republican Party gained traction, culminating in their first presidential campaign in 1856.

The 1856 Presidential Election

  • Republicans nominated military hero John C. Fremont from California.

  • The Democrats nominated James Buchanan, who represented proslavery interests.

  • A third party, the Know Nothings (American Party), led by Millard Fillmore, emerged as an anti-immigration group, targeting European immigrants.

Election Outcomes

  • Buchanan won the presidency, but the election results indicated shifting sentiments:

    • Fremont secured 11 out of 16 electoral votes from free states, indicating the Republican Party's growing strength in opposition to slavery.

    • The Know Nothings gained limited electoral influence but resonated widely in popular sentiments throughout the North.