Pre-territorial Kansas refers to what time period in the state's history?
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Pre-territorial Kansas refers to the time period before Kansas became an organized territory. This period ranges from the early 1800s until 1854 when the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed, officially establishing the Territory of Kansas.
The term "pre-territorial Kansas" refers to the time period in the history of the state of Kansas before it became an organized territory. To determine the specific time period, we can break it down into two parts: pre-European contact and pre-territorial settlement.
1. Pre-European Contact: Before the arrival of European explorers and settlers, the land that is now Kansas was inhabited by various indigenous peoples. These Native American tribes, such as the Osage, Kansa, Pawnee, and Wichita, had been living in the region for thousands of years. Pre-European contact refers to the time period prior to the arrival of Europeans, typically before the 16th century.
2. Pre-Territorial Settlement: This time period refers to the years between pre-European contact and the establishment of Kansas as an organized territory. In the case of Kansas, this period ends with the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854. This act divided the region into the Kansas and Nebraska territories, leading to the settlement and territorial organization of Kansas.
Therefore, the time period of pre-territorial Kansas covers the extensive period of Native American inhabitation prior to European contact until the establishment of the Kansas Territory in 1854.