Chapter 14: “Bloody Kansas” Presages the Civil War

Douglas’ hopes for a favorable PopSov outcome in Kansas vanish in 1856-57.

Pro-slavery forces from Missouri sweep in to steal the local elections, install a “bogus legislature,” sack the Free State town of Lawrence, and eventually seek admittance to the Union under their Lecompton Constitution.

Revenge comes for Lawrence with the fanatical abolitionist John Brown’s Potawatomie Massacre, and subsequent Free State victories led by Brown and “Jayhawker” General James Henry Lane.

In 1857, fair elections hand the official Kansas Legislature over to the Free State candidates and reject the Lecompton document. Repeated efforts by Pierce and his successor, James Buchanan, to bully it through Kansas end when Douglas breaks with Buchanan and calls for “do over” balloting, thus forfeiting his Southern support and hopes for the presidency.