History of Kansas
|
|
The U.S. state of Kansas is rich in the historic lore of the American West. Located on the eastern edge of the Great Plains, it was the home of nomadic Native American tribes who hunted the vast herds of bison. The region first appears in western history in the 16th century at the time of the Spanish conquest of Mexico, when Spanish conquistadores explored the unknown land now known as Kansas. It was later explored by French fur trappers who traded with the Native Americans. It became part of the United States in the Louisiana Purchase. In the 19th century, American explorers designated the area as "Great American Desert". Later Kansas was the first battlefield in the conflict in the American Civil War.
Prehistory
As late as 7000 BC, Asian immigrants entered into North America reaching Kansas. The Otoes, tribes of the Sioux, inhabited the area around Kansas and Nebraska. By a treaty made with the United States on September 21, 1833, they ceded their country south of the Little Nemaha River. Their land was ceded by treaty of March 15, 1854, and moved to the Big Blue River, finally leaving in 1881.
Colonial era
In the 16th century, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, the Spanish conquistador, visited Kansas.
The Kansa (Kanzas Nation), Osage Nation, and Ouasash (r Oauchage) arrived in Kansas around the year 1700.
The Kanzas Nation claimed that this region was their occupied territory since 1673.
In the 18th century, the Pawnees (sometimes Paneassa), were located in two places - northwest of the Kansa and Osage nations, in the region now known as Kansas and Nebraska.
Europeans visited the Northern Pawnees in 1719.
The French commander at Fort Orleans, M. de Bourgmont, passed directly around the Kansas River in 1724.
19th century
The region claimed by the Kanzas Nation was ceded to the United States by the treaty of June 1825. The Missouri Shawanoes [or Shawnees] were the first Indians removed to the territory set apart for emigrant tribes by the treaties of June, 1825. The Kanzas and Osages were relocated later.
By treaty made at St. Louis, November 7, 1825, the United States agreed to:
- "the Shawanoe tribe of Indians within the State of Missouri, for themselves, and for those of the same nation now residing in Ohio who may hereafter emigrate to the west of the Mississippi, a tract of land equal to fifty miles [80 km] square, situated west of the State of Missouri, and within the purchase lately made from the Osage."
The Delawares came to Kansas by the treaty of September 24, 1829, possessing the lands that were part of the State of Kansas. The treaty described:
- "the country in the fork of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers, extending up the Kansas River to the Kansas (Indian's) line, and up the Missouri River to Camp Leavenworth, and thence by a line drawn westerly, leaving a space ten miles wide, north of the Kanzas boundary line, for an outlet."
The US government moved the Kickapoos to a reservation in Kansas in the late 1830s.
By the August 30, 1831, treaty between the United States and the Ottawa nation (Blanchard's Fork and Roche de Boeuf), ceded land (aggregating 49,917 acres (202 km²)) to the United States and moved to the tract of land located adjoining the south or west line of the reservation, equal to fifty miles square, granted to the Shawnees of Missouri and Ohio, on the Kansas River and its branches. The treaty was ratified April 6, 1832.
On October 29, 1832, the Piankeshaws and Weas occupied 250 sections of land, bounded on the north by the Shawanoes; east by the western boundary line of Missouri for fifteen miles; and west by the Kaskaskias and Peorias.
By June 30, 1834, the Indian country territory was set apart extended as far north as the present northern boundary of Kansas. By treaty of February 11, 1837, the United States agreed to convey to the Pottawatomies area on the Osage River, southwest of the Missouri River, sufficient in extent and adapted to their habits and wants. The tract selected was in the southwest part of what is now Miami County.
By September 17, 1836 the confederacy of which the Sacs and Foxes, by treaty with the United States moved north of Kickapoos.
In 1842, after a treaty between the United States and the Wyandots, the Wyandots moved to the junction of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers (purchased of the Delaware). The nation, numbered around seven hundred persons. In the summer of 1843, Francis A. Hicks, the Wyandot chief, arrived. This area was situated in the fork of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers, and extended six miles on each river from their junction.
In 1847, the Pottawatomies moved to an area containing 576,000 acres (2,330 km²), being thirty miles square, and being the eastern part of the lands ceded to the United States by the Kansas tribe of Indians, adjoining the Shawnees (south), and the Delawares and Shawnees (east), on both sides of the Kansas. This tract comprised a part of the present counties of Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee, Jackson and Shawnee.
A large Kickapoo group left Kansas around 1850.
The Cheyennes and Arapahoes confederate tribes possessed boundaries fixed by the treaty of September 17, 1851, at Fort Laramie, in Eastern Colorado and Western Kansas.
In 1851, at a convention composed of thirteen delegates, elected by the Wyandots, a new Wyandot constitution was formed. On September 2, 1854, a convention was held at Wyandot, at which a provisional government was formed for the Territory. The treaty was ratified February 20, 1855.
The first move for a Territorial government, made within the limits of Kansas, was at the trading post of Uniontown in the spring of 1852 and was the first mass meeting of the American citizens of the Indian Territory. This commenced to lay plans to add to the Union another slave State. In the fall of October 12, 1852, an election was held at Wyandotte for Territorial Delegate to Congress. On July 28, 1853, another convention was held at Wyandotte for a Territorial government organized and nomination for delegate to Congress. The delegate went to Washington, but owning to the delay in passing the Territorial bill, was not received as a delegate.
Petitions were presented at the first session of the Thirty-second Congress for a territorial organization of the region lying west of Missouri and Iowa. No action was at that time taken. During the next session, December 13, 1852, a Representative submitted to the House a bill organizing the Territory of Platte. The bill was referred to the Committee on Territories, which reported February 2, 1853, a bill organizing the Territory of Nebraska, which covered the same area of territory as the previous session's bill: all the tract lying west of Iowa and Missouri, and extending west to the Rocky Mountains, generally known as the Platte country.
During the discussion of the bill organizing the Territory, the validity of the Missouri compromise, or the slavery prohibition, thereby established over the Territory, was not once brought in question. It was apparently accepted as a foregone conclusion that, whenever it should be organized into territories or admitted as states, it was to be, under an unalterable law, free territory, and from that belief sprang the Southern opposition. They were not yet ready to open up to settlement more territory, which, it was acknowledged, would eventually increase the number of free States.
Territory ceded
In 1854, the Foxes left Kansas (after slaying a number of Plains Indians in battle while on a buffalo hunt). Nearly all the tribes in the eastern part of the Territory ceded the greater part of their lands prior to the passage of the territorial act. On May 6, 1854, Delawares cede lands, except a reservation defined in the treaty. The Delawares ceded all their lands to the United States except that portion of area sold to the Wyandot tribe of Indians and that parts east and south of land of the Delawares and the Kanzas and forty miles in a direct line west of the boundary line between the Delawares and Wyandots.
Within the three months immediately preceding the passage of the Kansas bill aforesaid, treaties were quietly made at Washington with the Delawares, Otoes, Kickapoos, Kaskaskias, Shawnees, Sacs, Foxes and other tribes, whereby the greater part of the soil of Kansas, lying within one or two hundred miles of the Missouri border, was suddenly opened to white appropriation and settlement. On March 15, 1854, Otoe and Missouri Indians cede to the United States all their lands west of the Mississippi, except a small strip on the Big Blue River. On May 6, 1854, and May 10, the Shawnees cede 6,100,000 acres (25,000 km²), except 200,000 acres (809 km²) reserved for homes. May 17, the Iowas cede their lands, except a reservation. On May 18, 1854, the Kickapoos cede their lands, except 150,000 acres (607 km²) in the western part of the Territory. Lands were also ceded by the Kaskaskias, Peorias, Plankesbaw and Weas on March 30, 1854, and by the Sacs and Foxes May 18.
In 1854, the Chippewas (Swan Creek and Black River bands) inhabited 8,320 acres (34 km²) in Franklin County. In 1859, the tract was transferred to the individual; Chippewa families. Around 1857, the Sacs made a treaty accepting their lands in severalty and sell the surplus. In 1860, the Chippewa were joined by a small band of Munsee (or Christian Indian)s.
On February 23, 1867, a treaty was concluded between the United States and the Wyandots, making provision for those of the tribe who had not chosen to avail themselves of the provisions of the treaty of 1855, and become citizens, and also for those who, having done, so were unfitted for the responsibility of citizenship, and desired to resume tribal relations.
Kansas Territory
The Kansas-Nebraska Act became law on May 30, 1854 which established the Nebraska Territory and Kansas Territory. The act organizing Nebraska and Kansas contained thirty-seven sections. The provisions relating to Kansas were embodied in the last eighteen sections. Under the provisions of the act, Kansas was to be settled; its Government established, and its institutions decided by the incoming settlers. Some of the more notable sections were:
- Section 19 - Defines the boundaries of the Territory, gives it the name of Kansas, and prescribes that "when admitted as a State or States, the said Territory, or any portion of the same, shall be received into the Union with or without slavery, as their constitution may prescribe at the time of their admission." It further provides for its future division into two or more Territories, and the attaching of any portion thereof to any other State or Territory; and for the holding inviolable the rights of all Indian tribes till such time as they shall be extinguished by treaty.
- Section 28 - Declares the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 to be in full force in the Territory.
- Section 31 - Locates the seat of government of the Territory, temporarily at Fort Leavenworth, and authorizes the use for public purposes of the government buildings.
- Section 37 - Declares all treaties, laws and other engagements made by the United States Government, with the Indian tribes inhabiting the Territory, to remain inviolate, notwithstanding anything contained in the provisions of this act.
Within a few days after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, hundreds of leading Missourians crossed into the adjacent territory, selected each his quarter-section, or larger area of land, put some sort of mark on it, and then united with his fellow-adventurers in a meeting or meetings, intended to establish a sort of Missouri pre-emption upon all this region.
The Missouri Emigrates
As early as June 10, 1854, the Missourian Emigrates held a meeting at Salt Creek Valley, a trading post three miles west from Fort Leavenworth, at which a Squatter's Claim Association was organized. They were in favor of making Kansas a "Slave State" if it should require half the citizens of Missouri, musket in hand, to emigrate there, and even sacrifice their lives in accomplishing so desirable an end. According to these emigrates, abolitionists or free-soilers would do well not to stop in Kansas Territory, but keep on up the Missouri River until they reach Nebraska Territory, where they can peacefully make claims and establish their abolition and free-soil notions for if they do, they will be respectfully notified that but one day's grace will be allowed for them to take up their bed and baggage and walk.
Before the first arrival of Free State emigrants from the northern and eastern States, nearly every gentleman in Western Missouri had a claim staked out, and, by virtue of the claim laws established had become a landed proprietor and "Squatter Sovereign" of Kansas Territory.
Eastern Emigration
During the long and existing debate which preceded the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, it had become the settled opinion at the North that the only remaining means whereby the territory might yet be rescued from the grasp of the slave power, was in its immediate occupancy and settlement by anti-slavery emigrants from the free states in sufficient numbers to establish free institutions within its borders. The desire to facilitate the colonization of the Territory took practical shape while the bill was still under debate in the United States Congress. Organizations were incorporated with ample capital; others, only private associations of families from a neighborhood, combined in a communistic way for mutual aid and protection in establishing themselves in Kansas. Although differing much in name, strength, means and methods, they all had a common end in view: to direct and facilitate emigration to Kansas, and to aid in its speedy settlement by a anti-slavery population.
The emigration from the free states flowed into the territory, and settlements were made at various points, too scattered and remote from each other to attract either the attention or the enmity of the pro-slavery partisans, as at Lawrence. There were several free State men in the vicinity of Lawrence, who had come in from Iowa and the northwestern states prior to the arrival of the first party from New England. To protect themselves against the encroachments of non-residents, the "Actual Settlers' Association of Kansas Territory" was formed. According to previous notice, this association held a meeting on August 12, 1854, the object being the adoption of some regulations that should afford protection to the bona fide settlers, under laws not unlike those adopted by the pro-slavery squatters in the border region east, save in their restrictions against anti-slavery settlers. A compromise was effected, however, and a committee chosen from each association to agree upon a plan of union.
First Territorial Appointments
The first territorial appointments, looking to the inauguration of a local government, under the provisions of the organic law, were made in June and July, 1854. The officers appointed by President Pierce, whose appointments were confirmed by the United States Senate, and who entered upon the duties of their officer. The first governor was Andrew H. Reeder (of Easton, Pennsylvania) was appointed June 29, 1854. (Later, a letter of dismissal of July 28, 1858 removed Governor Reeder from office. His removal was officially announced July 31, and on August 16 Governor Reeder notified the Legislature of his removal.)
Territory's First Election
On March 30, 1855 "Border Ruffians" from Missouri invaded Kansas during the territory's first election and forced the election of a pro-slavery legislature. The general facts concerning the Missouri invasion of the ballot boxes at the election were known throughout Kansas from the day after the election. The Pro-slavery residents, with their allies over the Missouri border, considered it a fair victory, fairly won. The Missourians had gone over to the various precincts in Kansas in overwhelming numbers, and elected a Pro-slavery Legislature.
Free-state Movement
The first Free-state convention was held in Lawrence on the evening of June 8, 1855, in response to a call signed "Sundry Citizens," "for the purpose of considering matters of general interest to the Territory." Whereas they stated, certain persons from the neighboring State of Missouri have, from time to time, made irruptions into this territory, and have fraud and force driven from and overpowered our people at the ballot-box, and have forced upon us a Legislature which does not represent the opinions of the legal voters of this Territory, many of its members not being even residents of this Territory, buy having their homes in the State of Missouri; and whereas, said persons have used violence toward the persons and property of the inhabitants of the territory. The convention resolved in favor of making Kansas a free Territory, and as a consequence, a free State; the convention looked upon the conduct of a portion of the people of Missouri in the late Kansas election as a gross outrage on the elective franchise and rights of freemen and a violation of the principles of popular sovereignty. The convention members did not feel bound to obey any law of illegitimate legislature enacted and opposed the establishment of slavery. The convention reserved the right to invoke the aid of the General Government against the lawless course of the slavery propaganda with reference to the Territory.
The Big Springs Convention
There was held in the public hall in Lawrence a "Ratification Convention." It was a regular "love feast." It was a general ratification of all that had been done and showed most conclusively that thereafter there was a united force in Kansas pledged to freedom which no opposing powers could intimidate nor inward dissensions divide
Wakarusa War
On December 1, 1855, a small army of Missourians, acting under the command of Sheriff Samuel J. Jones, entered Kansas and laid siege to Lawrence in the opening stages of what would later become known as "The Wakarusa War." Under the influences and appliances of pro-slavery opponents, all Western Missouri was stirred to its very depths, and vomited forth an army for the subjugation of the Abolitionists of Lawrence.
The siege was commenced. The main body of the invaders were encamped on the Wakarusa bottoms, a little southeast of Franklin, some six miles from Lawrence. The invading army numbered at its highest not far from 1,500 men. They were indifferently armed as a whole, although they had broken into the United States Arsenal at Liberty, Clay Co., Mo., and stolen guns, cutlasses and cannon, and such munitions of war as they required.
A treaty of peace negotiation was announced amid much disorder and cries for the reading of the treaty shortly afterwards. It quelled the disorder and its provisions were generally accepted. The only fatal casualty occurring during the siege resulted in the death of one of the Free-state men who had come up to the defense of Lawrence.
Sacking of Lawrence [I]
On May 21, 1856, pro-slavery forces led by Sheriff Jones gathered closer about the doomed town. A large force was stationed on Mount Oread, and cannon planted so as to cover and command the place. Governor's house was taken as headquarters for the Marshal and the officers of his army. On every road leading to the town and on the opposite side of the river detachments of troops were posted to prevent the escape of fugitives from such justice as the Marshal and Sheriff were now prepared to mete out. The forces mustered under two flags. The blood-red flag, on which was inscribed "Southern rights," floated side by side that day with the "stars and stripes." It was not so a few years later. There was no flag floating in Lawrence save an American flag, which fluttered lonesomely from its staff over the Free State Hotel.
The two printing offices were first gutted, the presses destroyed, and the types thrown in the river. The semi-legal work was finished by destroying the Free State Hotel. The first shot fired at it from a cannon plated on the opposite side of Massachusetts street, was aimed by the tipsy Atchison, but failed to hit the building. About fifty shots were afterwards fired, with but little effect, upon the solid walls. Next it was attempted to blow it up. Several kegs of gunpowder were exploded within, with no appreciable damage to the walls. Its destruction was finally effected by the torch of the incendiary, and in the early evening it stood a roofless and smoldering ruin. The legal work was done. It was followed by petty robberies all through the defenseless and half-deserted town. Late in the evening the curtain fell, the last act being the burning of Gov. Robinson's private dwelling on Mount Oread, by the now irresponsible and lawless marauders, who had been released from all restraint when dismissed by the Sheriff.
Pottawatomie Murders
Free-state company under the command of John Brown, Jr., set out for the scene of disturbance. The Osawatomie company, Capt. Dayton, joined them, and together they reached "Ottawa Jones" on the morning of the 22d. There they first heard of the sack of the town, and the arrest of Deitzler, Brown and Jenkins. They, however, continued their march toward Lawrence, not knowing but their assistance might still be needed, and encamped at night "up the Ottawa Creek, near the residence of Capt. Shore." They remained in the vicinity until afternoon of the 23d, at which time they decided to return home.
About noon on the 23d, "Old John Brown", whose indignation was at fever heat, selected a party to go with him on a private expedition. They separated from the main party, ground their sabers, and having completed their preparations, left the camp together. Capt. John Brown, Jr., objected to their leaving his company, but, seeing his father was obdurate, silently acquiesced, with the timely caution to him to "do nothing rash." The company consisted of Old John Brown, four of his sons - Frederick, Owen, Watson, Oliver - Henry Thompson, his son-in-law, Thomas Winer and James Townsley, whom Old John had induced to carry the party in his wagon to their proposed field of operations.
They encamped that night between two deep ravines on the edge of the timber, some distance to the right of the main traveled road, about one mile above "Dutch Henry's crossing." There they remained unobserved until the following evening (Saturday, June 24). Some time after dark, the party left their place of hiding and proceeded on their "secret expedition." Late in the evening, they called at the house of James P. Doyle, and ordered him and his two sons, William and Drury, to go with them as prisoners. They followed their captors out into the darkness.
They next called at the house of Allen Wilkinson and ordered him out. He also obeyed; thence, crossing the Pottawatomie, they came to the house of Henry Sherman (Dutch Henry). He was not at home. They, however, arrested and took along with them William, his brother. They returned to the ravine where they had previously encamped, and there spent the quiet Sabbath morning, then broke camp and rejoined the Osawatomie company some time during Sunday night, it being at that time encamped near Ottawa Jones' The secret expedition was ended. Old man Doyle and his sons were left in the road a short distance from their house. They were cut, mangled, stabbed - some say shot - it didn't matter to the Doyles - they were dead. Sherman was left in the creek, near his brother's house. He was hacked upon the breast and hand, his skull split open, and, from the wounds, the brains oozed out into the muddy water. It did not matter to Sherman - he was dead.
End of hostilities
There was a War South of the Kaw, a Battle of Franklin, a siege of Fort Titus, a Battle of Osawatomie followed shortly afterwards by end of the conflict raids. With the disbanding of the forces, open war between, the contending factions ceased.
Military escorts were granted to travelers and teamsters desiring safe escort to and from the eastern border towns, and, so soon as safety to life and security of property in transit to interior points was established, and goods and supplies became more plentiful, the great incentive to general plunder was gone, midnight raids and robberies became infrequent. The range of lawless depredations became restricted to those who, naturally vicious, live in constant antagonism with all laws.
Constitutions
Four constitutions were framed as the organic law before this state was admitted to the Union. The Topeka Constitution, which was the first in order, was adopted by the Convention which framed it on November 11, 1855, and by the people of the Territory, at an election held December 15, 1855.
The Lecompton Constitution was adopted by the Convention which framed it on November 7, 1857. It was submitted to a vote of the people by the Convention on December 21, 1857, the form of the vote prescribed, being, "For the Constitution with slavery," and "For the constitution without slavery."
The constitutional convention, which framed the Leavenworth constitution, was provided for by an act of the Territorial Legislature passed in February, 1858, during the pendency of the Lecompton constitution in Congress. The constitution was adopted by the convention at Leavenworth April 3, 1858, and by the people at an election held May 18, 1858.
The Wyandotte constitution was adopted by the convention which framed it on July 29, 1859, and was adopted by the people at an election held October 4, 1859. The State was admitted into the Union under this constitution January 29, 1861.
Territorial Election
The adoption of the Wyandotte Constitution was accepted by the people of both sides as a final settlement of the exciting question which had hitherto kept the Territory in turmoil, and henceforth the excitement and frauds at the polls gave way to the quiet and honest contest for party supremacy which prevailed elsewhere in the country. The period of civil strife was at an end.
Statehood
Kansas became the 34th state of the Union on January 29, 1861. Admission of Kansas as a State proved a landmark in the struggle which begun seven years before. The slave powers in the southern United States had now thrown off disguise and challenged the nation to open battle for its life. In the renewal contest, Kansas put on the strength of years and fought with fidelity and bravery to win the Civil War, for all, the battle she had already won for herself. Around three months after admittance, Kansas was called upon to furnish a quota toward suppressing the rebellion.
Civil War
During the years 1859 to 1860, the military organizations had fallen into disuse or been entirely broken up. At the breaking out of the civil war, the Kansas government had no well-organized militia, no arms, accoutrements or supplies, nothing with which to meet the demands, except the united will of officials and citizens. The first Kansas regiment was called on June 3, 1861, and the seventeenth, the last raised during the civil war, July 28, 1864. The entire quota assigned to the Kansas was 16,654, and the number raised was 20,097, leaving a surplus of 3,443 to the credit of Kansas. Statistics indicated that losses of Kansas regiments in killed in battle and from disease are greater per thousand than those of any other State.
Sacking of Lawrence [II]
In mid-late August of 1863, William Quantrill and a group of about 400 Confederate partisans in Missouri rode to Lawrence, a town long hated by Quantrill and many Southerners. At the time, Lawrence was home of the demagogic abolitionist Senator Jim Lane, and it was also a stronghold of the Red Legs, Union guerrillas who had sacked much of western Missouri, killing indiscriminately and without mercy as they went. As Quantrill rationalized, an attack on this citadel of abolition would bring revenge for any wrongs, real or imagined that the Southerners had suffered. Early on the morning of August 21, 1863, Quantrill’s raiders descended on the still sleeping town of Lawrence in a fury. In this carefully orchestrated early morning raid, Quantrill and his band, in less than four brutal hours, turned the town into a bloody and blazing inferno. By the time the raid was over, Quantrill and his men had killed approximately 150-200 men, both young and old.
Prohibition
On February 19, 1861 it became the first U.S. state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages. This was the result of the Temperance movement and eventually resulted in Prohibition.
Troubles in Kansas
The time of the discovery of the precious metals in the mountains of Colorado, and the consequent crowding of the Cheyennes and Arapahoes toward the valleys of the Republican and Smoky Hill, may be considered the commencement of a series of aggressions and counter-aggressions between the Indians and the miners and military of Colorado, which eventuated in April, 1864, in a cruel war kept up for many months by the Indians upon frontier settlers in Kansas and Nebraska, upon travelers, ranch men end train men, culminating in November of the same year, in a wholesale slaughter of a band of Indians - mostly friendly Indians - who were encamped on Sand Creek near Fort Lyon, on their own reservation, to which they had been ordered as a place of safety.
The central and western portions of the State of Kansas are now, and have been for some time, overrun with roving bands of hostile Indians. These Indians, though claiming protection from the United States Government, and regularly receiving their annuities in due form, have, without cause, declared war upon the people of this State. They have indiscriminately murdered, scalped, mutilated and robbed hundreds of our frontier settlers, and other parties in Western States who were quietly attending to their own legitimate affairs; they have almost entirely cut off all communication between Kansas and other Western States and Territories; the men employed in the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad, Eastern Division, have been driven back, leaving many of their number butchered and scalped upon the ground. Gen. Sherman and other United States officers suppressed the hostilities.
Era of Peace
The sweet assuring smile of peace fell on Kansas for the first time in her existence when the war of the rebellions ended.
Twelve years of turmoil and bloody strife - twelve years of constant effort where danger was ever rife, had trained the inhabitants to know now rest save in motion and no safety save in incessant vigilance.
Under such discipline the character of the whole people had become as peculiar as the experiences through which they had passed. A restless energy was the controlling characteristic - to take one's ease had ceased to be a thing to be desired; obstacles to be overcome were the desire objects, and to overcome them the grand aim of a typical Kansan's life.
The war being ended, they turned to the most vigorous pursuit of the peaceful arts; they had conquered the right to the free soil they trod; henceforth their energies should be devoted to the development of its highest possibilities through every means which ingenuity could devise, patience endure, or energy execute.
Cold War
During the Cold War, Kansas participated in the deterrent weapons system that for years defended America from nuclear attack.
In the 1950s, Kansas received unusually high doses of radioactive nuclear fallout from 1950s nuclear weapons tests in Nevada.
During the 1950s and 1960s, intercontinental ballistic missiles (designed to carry a single nuclear warhead) were station throughout Kansas facilities. They were stored (to be launched from) hardened underground silos. The Kansas facilities were deactivated in the early 1980s.
Theories existed at that time that Lawrence, Kansas would be one of the few cities unaffected by a nuclear war (as it is near the exact geographic center of the United States).
Links, Resources, References
- Portions of this text was taken from William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas (http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/), first published in 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL.
- Jane Smiley's novel The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton (ISBN 0-00225-743-2) is largely set around the settlement and sacking of Lawrence, and is rich in historical detail.