Willing to Die for FreedomTerritorial TimelineHere's a timeline of significant events in Kansas' territorial period, 1854-1861.1854 May 30President Franklin Pierce signs the Kansas-Nebraska bill, creating Kansas Territory. July 28The first antislavery settlers of the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company (later known as the New England Emigrant Aid Company) arrive in Kansas Territory. 1855March 30An election is held to select the territorial legislature. About 1,000 armed proslavery Missourians enter Kansas. They cast fraudulent votes and prevent free-state settlers from voting. SpringSons of abolitionist John Brown begin arriving in Kansas. Their infamous father joins them later. October 23--November 11Free-state delegates draft the Topeka Constitution prohibiting slavery in the territory. It is rejected by Congress in 1856. 1856May 21Sheriff Samuel Jones and a proslavery posse attack Lawrence. May 22Senator Charles Sumner from Massachusetts is severely beaten after he delivers a speech, "The Crime Against Kansas." May 24The Pottawatomie Massacre occurs when free-state forces led by John Brown brutally murder five proslavery settlers. June 2John Brown and proslavery forces clash in the Battle of Black Jack. August 7James Lane and nearly 600 emigrants arrive in Kansas after traveling the Lane Trail through Iowa and Nebraska, avoiding proslavery forces along the Kansas-Missouri border. August 30The Battle of Osawatomie ignites when 400 Missourians attack the town, driving out freestaters led by John Brown. September 13The Battle of Hickory Point occurs. September 16Free-stater David Buffum is murdered by proslavery supporter Charles Hays. 1857March 6The U.S. Supreme Court hands down the Dred Scott decision, stating that "Negroes are not citizens of the United States." 1858February 2The Lecompton Constitution is presented to Congress, which rejects it after much debate. April 3The Leavenworth Constitution is completed. It dies in committee in Congress. May 19The Marais des Cygnes Massacre results in the deaths of five free-state settlers. May 29U.S. troops arrive in Fort Scott to stop the violence between proslavery forces and James Montgomery's free-state jayhawkers. June 11Abraham Lincoln tells delegates at the National Republican Convention, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." December 20John Brown goes into Missouri to liberate a group of slaves. 1859January 3John Brown writes his famous "Parallels" defending his behavior in Kansas. January 31Proslavery forces try to capture John Brown and escaping slaves in the Battle of the Spurs. October 4Voters ratify the Wyandotte Constitution, under which Kansas eventually becomes a state. October 16John Brown attacks the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. He is captured and the hanged for treason on December 2. December 1Abraham Lincoln arrives in Kansas Territory to campaign for the 1860 presidential election . 1860November 6Abraham Lincoln wins the presidential election. December 24South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union. 1861January 29President James Buchanan signs the bill allowing Kansas to enter the Union as a free state. April 12The Civil War officially begins when proslavery troops fire on Fort Sumter, South Carolina.
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