Kansas-Missouri Border Conflict (Bleeding Kansas)

Bleeding Kansas describes the period of repeated outbreaks of violent guerrilla warfare between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces following the creation of the new territory of Kansas in 1854. 

The Kansas-Nebraska act effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise - which had restricted slavery to states south of the 36º 30’ parallel - Missouri's Southern Border.  This meant that white settlers could decide whether Kansas and Nebraska could enter the Union as a free or slave state.  

Early attempts at territorial elections in Kansas were fraught with illegal votes and intimidation - predominantly on the part of the pro-slavery forces. Free-state supporters fought back and from 1855-1859, about 56 people were killed in the conflict between Free-State (Jayhawkers) and Pro-Slavery (Border Ruffian) forces.  The violence was sporadic and guerilla in nature - the terms Bushwacking and Bushwacker used to describe individuals on both sides of the conflicts.  The forces each formed their own government - pro-slavery in Lecompton and free-state in Lawrence.

As the violence continued, it quickly became clear that the majority of settlers were free state supporters. A free state constitution was drafted and submitted to congress.  The Wyandot Constitution passed the House of Representatives, but was held up by southerners in the senate.  The 1861 election of Abraham Lincoln resulted in the secession of seven states from the Union.  With the departure of southern senators from congress, the Wyandot Constitution was approved, and Kansas joined the Union as a free state.  Despite this, guerilla warfare continued along the Kansas-Missouri border to the end of the American Civil War.

The following bibliography is a selection of sources written about the Kansas-Missouri Border conflict.