| Year |
What |
| 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act |
which created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. To create opportunities
for a transcontinental railroad was the main cause of that act. Settlers were
allowed to decide about being a slavery state or not. This is also the beginning
of the antebellum period of the Civil War.
|
| 1854 |
a new Republican Party was formed in reaction of the Kansas-Nebraska Act
which would allow slavery
|
| 1854, Mach 20 |
fist county convention
|
| 1854, July 6 |
first statewide convention. Delegates declared that the Republican Party
is opposed to the expansion of slavery
|
| 1854 and 1855 |
the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company as well as others sent anti-slavery
settlers into Kansas (Free Staters)
|
| 1855 to about 1858 |
“bleeding Kansas” violent events in which Free-Staters (against slavery)
and Border Ruffians (pro slavery) were engaged. They tried to influence
whether Kansas would enter the U.S. as a non slavery or as a slavery state.
|
| 1855, Mach 30 |
election of the Kansas Territorial legislature. Missourians (Border Ruffians)
crossed the border in order to vote in favor of pro slavery candidates
|
| 1855, October |
John Brown came to Kansas to fight slavery
|
| 1855, November 11 |
Free Staters adopted the Topeka Constitution (slavery was banned by
this Constitution but the document never became legal)
|
| 1855 |
Border Ruffians attacked Free Staters at Lawrence (established 1854).
In later years this was called the “Wakarusa War”
|
| 1856 |
the territorial capital was moved to Lecompton, 12 miles from Lawrence.
Lecompton (Bald Eagle) was settled in 1854 but changed to Lecompton
|
| 1856, May 21 |
Free staters at Lawrence were again attacked and their Hotel was burned
|
| 1856, May 24 |
John Brown and his men killed pro slavery settlers at the Pottawatomie Creek,
Franklin County, known as Pottawatomie Massacre
|
| 1856, June 2 |
“Battle of Black Jack” John Brown attacked the camp of Henry C. Pate near Baldwin City
|
| 1856 |
the new governor, John W. Geary managed to get a fragile peace for two years
|
| 1856, August 30 |
about 300 Border Ruffians attacked the city of Osawatomie, Miami County (founded in 1855).
John Brown and perhaps forty men tried to defense the town without success. John Brown’s
son Frederick was killed. The Border Ruffians than moved to Topeka and Lawrence
|
| 1857 |
Lecompton Constitution, a pro slavery document but refused on vote
|
| 1858, May 19 |
Charles Hamilton and thirty man from Missouri arrived at Trading Post, Kansas
captured eleven Free Staters and killed five. This became known as Marais des Cygnes Massacre
|
| 1858, June |
John Brown built a fort a little south of the ravine were Hamilton’s men killed the Free Staters
|
| 1859 |
Wyandotte Constitution which was later approved and Kansas later entered the US as a free state
|
| 1859 |
the Kansas Republican Party held its first convention in Osawatomie
|
| 1861 |
Kansas became the 34th state of the U.S. Topeka (founded in 1854) became the capital
of the state of Kansas and the Civil War began on April 12, 1861
|
