Posted on Mar 30, 2017
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In territorial Kansas’ first election, some 5,000 so-called “Border Ruffians” invade the territory from western Missouri and force the election of a pro-slavery legislature. Although the number of votes cast exceeded the number of eligible voters in the territory, Kansas Governor Andrew Reeder reluctantly approved the election to prevent further bloodshed.
Trouble in territorial Kansas began with the signing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act by President Franklin Pierce in 1854. The act stipulated that settlers in the newly created territories of Nebraska and Kansas would decide by popular vote whether their territory would be free or slave. A few months after pro-slavery forces defrauded Kansas’ first election, the Kansas Free State forces were formed, armed by supporters in the North and featuring the leadership of militant abolitionist John Brown. In May 1856, Border Ruffians sacked the abolitionist town of Lawrence, and in retaliation a small Free State force under John Brown massacred five pro-slavery Kansans along the Pottawatomie Creek.
During the next four years, raids, skirmishes, and massacres continued in “Bleeding Kansas,” as it became popularly known. In 1861, the irrepressible differences in Kansas were swallowed up by the outbreak of full-scale civil war in America.
Trouble in territorial Kansas began with the signing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act by President Franklin Pierce in 1854. The act stipulated that settlers in the newly created territories of Nebraska and Kansas would decide by popular vote whether their territory would be free or slave. A few months after pro-slavery forces defrauded Kansas’ first election, the Kansas Free State forces were formed, armed by supporters in the North and featuring the leadership of militant abolitionist John Brown. In May 1856, Border Ruffians sacked the abolitionist town of Lawrence, and in retaliation a small Free State force under John Brown massacred five pro-slavery Kansans along the Pottawatomie Creek.
During the next four years, raids, skirmishes, and massacres continued in “Bleeding Kansas,” as it became popularly known. In 1861, the irrepressible differences in Kansas were swallowed up by the outbreak of full-scale civil war in America.
Violence disrupts first Kansas election - Mar 30, 1855 - HISTORY.com
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Posted 8 y ago
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TSgt Joe C., the Ang Lee movie "Ride with the Devil" is based on events leading up to the Lawrence (KS) Massacre, although it comes from a Missouri Bushwhacker (unofficial Confederate guerilla fighters) perspective.
Although panned by the media and considered a financial disaster, I thought it was a pretty good movie.
"'Ride with the Devil' is a 1999 American Civil War Western film directed by Ang Lee. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by James Schamus, based on the book 'Woe to Live On', by Daniel Woodrell.
The events portrayed in the novel and film take place in Missouri, amidst escalating guerrilla warfare at the onset of the American Civil War. A loose dramatization of the Lawrence Massacre is depicted. Tobey Maguire stars as Jake Roedel, a Southern militiaman, who joins a group of marauders known as the Bushwhackers. The gang attempt to disrupt and marginalize the political activities of Northern Jayhawkers allied with Union soldiers." LTC Stephen F.
Although panned by the media and considered a financial disaster, I thought it was a pretty good movie.
"'Ride with the Devil' is a 1999 American Civil War Western film directed by Ang Lee. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by James Schamus, based on the book 'Woe to Live On', by Daniel Woodrell.
The events portrayed in the novel and film take place in Missouri, amidst escalating guerrilla warfare at the onset of the American Civil War. A loose dramatization of the Lawrence Massacre is depicted. Tobey Maguire stars as Jake Roedel, a Southern militiaman, who joins a group of marauders known as the Bushwhackers. The gang attempt to disrupt and marginalize the political activities of Northern Jayhawkers allied with Union soldiers." LTC Stephen F.
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Thanks for reminding us TSgt Joe C. that on March 30, 1855 violence between those who supported and opposed slavery broke out in Kansas during the initial Kansas election which would include determination of whether Kansas would be slave State or Free State.
Thankfully the fraudsters were discovered and Kansas became a Free State. Of course that caused problems for people in Lawrenceville and other towns once the Civil War broke out.
FYI LTC Stephen C. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Capt Christopher Mueller Capt Seid Waddell CPT Gabe Snell 1stSgt Eugene Harless CW5 (Join to see) SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Robert George SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright SP5 Robert Ruck SCPO Morris Ramsey CPL Eric Escasio SPC Margaret Higgins
Thankfully the fraudsters were discovered and Kansas became a Free State. Of course that caused problems for people in Lawrenceville and other towns once the Civil War broke out.
FYI LTC Stephen C. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Capt Christopher Mueller Capt Seid Waddell CPT Gabe Snell 1stSgt Eugene Harless CW5 (Join to see) SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Robert George SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright SP5 Robert Ruck SCPO Morris Ramsey CPL Eric Escasio SPC Margaret Higgins
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SP5 Robert Ruck
The Governor reluctantly conceded to the election to avoid more bloodshed which in the end caused more bloodshed. Chamberlain conceded to Hitler to avoid more bloodshed which ultimately led to more bloodshed. Has anybody learned the lesson that conceding to corrupt forces leads to nothing more than more corruption?
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