Which of the following statements about the events in Kansas-Nebraska is true?
A.
Border ruffians were antislavery and voted fraudulently, creating chaos in the Kansas territory.
B.
Because of its proximity to both free and slave states, Kansas experienced much more conflict than Nebraska.
C.
The Potawatomie Creek Massacre was John Brown’s attempt to fight slavery through a raid on a federal arsenal in Kansas.
D.
President Pierce was sympathetic to the Topeka government and supported it with federal troops.
To determine which of the statements about the events in Kansas-Nebraska is true, we can look at historical records and analyze the events that took place during that time period.
Statement A: Border ruffians were antislavery and voted fraudulently, creating chaos in the Kansas territory.
To determine the accuracy of this statement, we need to understand who the border ruffians were and their role in the events. Border ruffians were pro-slavery activists from Missouri who crossed the border into Kansas to vote in favor of slavery. They were not antislavery, but rather supported the extension of slavery into Kansas. Their fraudulent voting did create chaos in the Kansas territory by influencing the outcome of elections. Therefore, statement A is not true.
Statement B: Because of its proximity to both free and slave states, Kansas experienced much more conflict than Nebraska.
To evaluate this statement, we need to consider the geographical location of Kansas and Nebraska and analyze the historical context. Kansas was situated right on the border between free and slave states, which led to significant conflicts between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions. On the other hand, Nebraska was located further north and did not experience the same level of conflict. Therefore, statement B is true.
Statement C: The Potawatomie Creek Massacre was John Brown’s attempt to fight slavery through a raid on a federal arsenal in Kansas.
To determine the accuracy of this statement, we need to understand the Potawatomie Creek Massacre and John Brown's intentions. The Potawatomie Creek Massacre occurred when John Brown and his followers killed five pro-slavery settlers in the Kansas territory. While John Brown was indeed an abolitionist, the massacre was not a raid on a federal arsenal but rather a retaliatory act against pro-slavery supporters. Therefore, statement C is not true.
Statement D: President Pierce was sympathetic to the Topeka government and supported it with federal troops.
To evaluate this statement, we need to examine President Pierce's stance on the events in Kansas-Nebraska and his actions concerning the Topeka government. President Pierce, who served during this time period, was not sympathetic to the Topeka government, which was established by anti-slavery activists. Instead, he supported the pro-slavery Lecompton government. He did not send federal troops to support the Topeka government but rather tried to suppress the anti-slavery movement. Therefore, statement D is not true.
In conclusion, the only true statement about the events in Kansas-Nebraska is statement B: Because of its proximity to both free and slave states, Kansas experienced much more conflict than Nebraska.