Civil War Chpt. 13

Overview of Bleeding Kansas

• Bleeding Kansas refers to the violent conflicts in the Kansas territory during the 1850s.

• The term was popularized by newspapers, notably Horace Greeley's New York Tribune, highlighting the violence stemming from the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

Causes of Violence

• Kansas-Nebraska Act: Passed in 1854, it organized the territories of Kansas and Nebraska under the principle of popular sovereignty, allowing residents to determine if they would permit slavery.

• Popular Sovereignty: The idea was that people could decide on slavery, but lacked clarity on when they could make that decision.

• Influx of Settlers: Pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions rushed to the territory to influence the outcome and assert control over governance.

Conflict and Governance

• Pro-Slavery Government: Established in Lecompton, supported by Southern Democrats.

• Anti-Slavery Government: Set up in Topeka, backed by Northern Republicans.

• This led to a standoff that escalated into violence, as both factions claimed legitimacy.

Key Figures and Events

• John Brown: An abolitionist who moved to Kansas and led violent attacks against pro-slavery settlers, notably the murder of five settlers, in a quest for anti-slavery causes.

• Charles Sumner Incident: In May 1856, Senator Sumner was nearly beaten to death on the floor of the Senate by Congressman Preston Brooks, highlighting the intensity of the conflict.

Casualties and Outcomes

• Estimates suggest that dozens to hundreds were killed in Kansas during the violence, which lasted for approximately two years.

• Ultimately, Kansas entered the Union as a free state on the brink of the Civil War.

Broader Implications

• The violence in Kansas underscored the deepening rift between North and South over slavery, and illustrated the extremes to which proponents of both sides would go.

• The emerging conflict foreshadowed the greater violence of the Civil War, as the issues of governance and human rights clashed.

• The predicament of African American refugees during this time reflects a humanitarian crisis, complicating post-war issues for the Union.