Kansas is a state in central USA. The territory of the State of Kansas formed a part of the Louisiana and Texas cessions. The greater part was acquired by the United States in 1803. The portion lying south of the Arkansas River and west of longitude 100 degrees West was ceded to the United States by Texas in 1850.
The region was explored in 1541 by Coronado, a Spaniard. In 1819-1820 it was partly explored by Major Long, of the United States army. In 1854 Stephen A Douglas introduced a bill into Congress providing for the organization of the Kansas and Nebraska territories, and the repeal of the Missouri Compromise of 1820, whereby slavery was prohibited north of 36 degrees 30 minutes. The existence of slavery was left to the decision of the people of the State when admitted. The introduction and passage, on May the 30th, 1854, of this bill caused intense political excitement. Immigrants from Arkansas and Missouri immediately began to move into Kansas to hold the State for the pro-slavery party. On the other hand the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Society sent out colonies to keep slavery out of the State. The Kansas struggle then began.
The pro-slavery men, aided by bands from Missouri, elected the Territorial delegate to Congress, on November the 29th, 1854. On March the 30th, 1855, an election took place for a Territorial Legislature, in which the pro-slavery men were again successful. At this election 5427 votes were cast for then candidates, and 791 for their opponents, and yet there were but 2905 legal voters in the country. This Legislature met at Pawnee in July, and immediately proceeded to vote Kansas a slave Territory. On the other hand the anti-slavery men met in convention at Topeka, and adopted a State Constitution which prohibited slavery, in October-November, 1855. This Constitution was ratified by popular vote, on December the 15th.
An election for a Legislature was held under this Constitution in January. On May the 21st Lawrence was pillaged. In the same year a party under John Brown murdered five men. A bill for the admission of the State was defeated in the Senate, and the State Legislature was dispersed by Federal troops in 1856. A pro-slavery convention adopted the Lecompton Constitution, which was submitted to a popular vote with or without slavery. The anti-slavery men refused to vote, and the Constitution was adopted. At a second election, on January the 4th, 1858, it was defeated, and again on August the 3rd at another election ordered by Congress. In 1859 a constitutional convention at Wyandotte adopted a Constitution prohibiting slavery, which was ratified on October the 4th. On January the 29th, 1861, Kansas was admitted into the Union.
Abbreviations
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