Can someone explain what 'Bleeding Kansas' was? I am doing a project, but can't seem to understand. I do know it was a violent outbreak in Kansas during the Kansas-Nebraska act, but what was the cause?
whether or not Kansas would be a slave state.
http://www.history.com/topics/bleeding-kansas
Certainly! "Bleeding Kansas" refers to a series of violent conflicts that occurred in the Kansas Territory in the mid-1850s. It stemmed from the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which allowed the residents of these territories to vote on whether they wanted to allow or prohibit slavery. This act was passed to let the people decide the issue of slavery, but it instead intensified the national debate over the expansion of slavery into the territories.
The cause of the violence in Kansas was the clash between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups who flooded the territory to influence the outcome of the vote. The conflict arose because Kansas had the potential to tip the balance between free and slave states in the United States Senate. Both sides saw the opportunity to gain or prevent the expansion of slavery, so they sent settlers and armed groups to influence the outcome.
These settlers and groups engaged in various acts of violence, including election fraud, raids, murders, and other forms of intimidation against one another. As a result, the territory became a battleground between pro-slavery forces, who sought to make Kansas a slave state, and anti-slavery forces, who aimed to prevent its expansion.
It is important to note that the term "Bleeding Kansas" was coined by Horace Greeley, an editor of the New York Tribune, to describe the violent nature of the conflicts taking place during this time.
To better understand the causes, events, and significance of "Bleeding Kansas," I recommend conducting further research and referring to historical accounts, textbooks, academic articles, and primary sources such as contemporary newspaper articles and personal letters from that period. These sources will provide you with a more comprehensive understanding of the topic for your project.