Violence in Kansas

1. Violence in Kansas “Bleeding Kansas”

2. Bleeding Kansas Starts • N & S race to fill Kansas with “voters” for each side • March 1855  election • “Border ruffians” from Missouri [slave state] • Voted illegally

3. The Attack on Lawrence • Antislavery settlers founded town of Lawrence • Proslavery grand jury wanted the settlers arrested • May 21, 1856 – proslavery group destroys all of Lawrence • 2 printing presses • Looted houses & stores • Set antislavery HQ aflame

4. The Pottawatomie Massacre • John Brown • Infuriated over the sack of Lawrence • May 24 – went to Pottawatomie Creek • Pulled 5 men out of bed, cut off their hands and stabbed them

5. Bleeding KS • John Brown and Pott. Massacre trigger several killings • ~200 people die following Brown incident

6. The Sumner-Brooks Incident • Charles Sumner = “The Crime Against Kansas” • Attacked slavery supporters • Made personal attacks towards Andrew Butler • Butler = slurred speech, proslavery • Preston Brooks [Butler’s Nephew] • Beats Sumner

7. Harpers Ferry • Oct 16, 1859, Virginia (now WV) • John Brown, again • Believed that it was time for a slave uprising • Intended to take over the federal arsenal & arm slaves with weapons • Led small group of men, more white than black • 60 men held hostage by Brown, thought slaves would involve themselves • No slaves intervened • US Marines – Robert E. Lee – arrest Brown

8. The end of Brown • December 2, 1859 • Hanged for high treason • Northerners regarded Brown a martyr • Southerners now afraid of potential slave uprising organized by Northerners