The stage was set in the West for the first direct confrontation between the North and the South in 1854. In Missouri, the pro-slavery senator, David Atchinson, took up the challenge and urged his constituents to "send 500 of your young men (from Kansas) who will vote in favor of your institutions." He issued the invitation to stuff the ballot boxes, and then led a gang of Missouri supporters into Kansas in November 1854 to vote in the territory's first election. Meanwhile, scores of northerners from the Old Northwest were also heading west to match the Missouri "border ruffian" votes.
Most of the pioneers who flocked to Kansas between 1854 and 1860 were more interested in securing good land than the politics of slavery. Inevitably, however, they had to choose allegiance to one side or the other for protection. As the split grew wider, each side tried to claim all of Kansas - conducting separate elections for legislatures and constitutions. Free and fair elections were tried but failed with even the help of the pro-South President of the United States!
Political confrontation finally resulted in bloodshed on May 21, 1856 when 800 pro-slavers met in Lawrence, the anti-slavery center. They destroyed two newspapers, looted stores and wound up by burning the Free State Hotel and the Governor's house. Reaction was swift...just three days later fanatical John Brown led six of his followers to a pro-slavery settlement at Pottawatomie Creek, then watched as his men hacked five residents to death.
Next time...Fanatical John Brown
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Today in Pioneer History: "On October 9, 1868, the 14th Amendment was adopted, guaranteeing to African Americans citizenship and all its privileges.
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