In 1854, the senator from Illinois, Stephen A. Douglas revisited the question of slavery in the territories. He felt that the local people were in a better position to determine the needs of the region. He proposed a bill to organize the territory of Kansas. The crisis started when a plan was developed to bring the country together. They thought a railroad would benefit the nation’s economy. Senator Douglas wanted this transcontinental railroad to go through Chicago. The railroad was to connect the East to California. Before that could be happen, Kansas and Nebraska needed to be turned into states.
He introduced a bill to divide the Great Plains into two territories, Kansas and Nebraska. He encouraged settlement on a land that once had been promised to Indian tribes. He also proposed that the residents of Kansas and Nebraska vote on whether their territories would be free or slave states. After the bill passed in Congress, the Missouri Compromise was repealed. Fredrick Douglass called it a breach of honor. In 1820, Congress had tried to limit the spread of slavery with the Missouri Compromise. For three decades, the Missouri Compromise had maintained slight political power between the North and South. This was concerning because Kansas and Nebraska were both north of the line where slavery was to be prohibited. Nebraska was so far north that they thought it would vote for free soil. Kansas bordered the slave state of Missouri and was up for grabs. It had been known as a free soil town.
If another slave territory was incorporated in the nation, additional slaves would be available to work Southern plantations. Abolitionists were angry and vowed to prevent the inclusion of slavery into what had been free territory. Southern plantation owners who migrated from Missouri and other states brought their slaves with them. The Kansas-Nebraska region erupted in violence. Southern plantation owners were frustrated that the federal government refused full support for slavery. That summer, the opposing forces came to Kansas to vote. Instead, these opposing forces clashed in a violent conflict. The Southerners rioted in the antislavery town of Lawrence, Kansas. The New England Emigrant Aid Society retaliated by sending radical abolitionists into the area, including John Brown and four of his sons. He had studied for the Congregational ministry and had earned a reputation as an anti-slavery soldier.
Brown was a fifty six year old rebel and hated slavery. He believed he was told by God to break the back of the institution. Brown had previously written to Fredrick Douglas about his dislike. He killed several Southerners who had brought slaves to Kansas and two of his sons died in the violence. Newspaper reporters called the area “Bleeding Kansas.” Before the attacks and counterattacks were over, more than fifty men lost their lives before Kansas voted itself free.
Anger over what happened in Kansas caused chaos in Congress. In 1856, during a debated over Kansas statehood, Massachusetts abolitionist senator Charles Sumner denounced “the crime against Kansas” and held state senator Douglas for the policy that caused the violence. Two days later, Preston Brooks, a congressman from South Carolina, stormed into the Senate and beat Sumner with a cane. He was disabled and was not able to return to Congress. Massachusetts voters reelected him in 1857 anyway. His empty chair symbolized abolitionist sacrifice.
Francie Mae. December 22, 2021
References
Clayborne Carson, Emma J. Lapasansky-Werner, Gary B. Nash. 2007.The Struggle For Freedom, A History of African Americans. Pearson Longman.
Horton, James Oliver and Lois E.. 2005. Slavery And The Making of America. Oxford University Press, Inc. New York.
Johnson, Charles and Smith, Patricia. 1998. Africans in America. America’s Journey through Slavery. A Harvest Book. Harcourt Brace and Company. San Diego. New York. London.