Bleeding Kansas and pre–Civil War border warfare (1854–1861)

1. Kansas–Nebraska Act creates Kansas Territory

   May 30, 1854Labels: Kansas Territory, Kansas Nebraska

   • Britannica
   • US Senate
   • Kansapedia

2. Border Ruffians sway early territorial voting

   Mar 30, 1855Labels: Border Ruffians, Missouri

   • HISTORY
   • Kansapedia

3. Topeka Convention drafts an antislavery constitution

   Oct 23, 1855Labels: Topeka Convention, Free-Staters

   • Britannica
   • KSHS Archives

4. Wakarusa War standoff surrounds Lawrence

   Nov 1, 1855Labels: Wakarusa War, Lawrence

   • Wakarusa War
   • Britannica

5. Sack of Lawrence destroys Free-State stronghold

   May 21, 1856Labels: Sack of, Samuel J

   • KSHS Article
   • Sack Lawrence

6. Pottawatomie killings deepen cycle of retaliation

   May 24, 1856Labels: Pottawatomie killings, John Brown

   • KSHS Quarterly
   • KSHS Memory

7. Battle of Black Jack becomes open armed clash

   Jun 2, 1856Labels: Battle of, John Brown

   • Kansapedia
   • NPS

8. Battle of Osawatomie spreads fighting southward

   Aug 30, 1856Labels: Battle of, Osawatomie

   • Kansapedia
   • Osawatomie

9. Lecompton Constitution advances proslavery statehood plan

   Nov 7, 1857Labels: Lecompton Constitution, Proslavery delegates

   • KSHS Site
   • Lecompton Hall

10. Kansas voters reject Lecompton Constitution

    Jan 4, 1858Labels: Lecompton vote, Kansas voters

    • KSHS Site
    • Britannica

11. Marais des Cygnes massacre shocks national opinion

    May 19, 1858Labels: Marais des, Linn County

    • KSHS Site
    • KSHS Article

12. Wyandotte Constitution sets path to free-state Kansas

    Oct 4, 1859Labels: Wyandotte Constitution, Kansas delegates

    • Britannica
    • KS Revisor

13. Kansas admitted as a free state

    Jan 29, 1861Labels: Kansas statehood, Wyandotte Constitution

    • Britannica
    • KS SoS