Border Ruffians were known for their involvement in the violent conflicts that erupted during the territorial disputes over the expansion of slavery in the United States. These conflicts occurred primarily in the Kansas Territory during the 1850s. The Border Ruffians were pro-slavery advocates from the neighboring slave states of Missouri and Arkansas who crossed the border into Kansas to help secure the territory for slavery and influence the outcome of elections and disputes. Their presence and participation in acts of violence and intimidation were significant factors in the so-called Bleeding Kansas period of American history.
