Yankees and Border Ruffians in Bleeding Kansas Sara

Yankees and “Border Ruffians” in “Bleeding Kansas”: Sara Robinson and David Atchison VINCENT, ALYSSA, ESTHER, PRICILLA

Context America had achieved Manifest Destiny after claiming Mexico’s lands in the war over Texas’ borders. As a result, many Americans began to move west into new territory in hopes of a better life. For many slaveholders, the debate of whether or not slavery would be allowed in these new territories made them very uneasy. The government passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which let people decide by popular sovereignty on the issue of slavery in the affected areas. In Kansas, however, popular sovereignty pitted two opposing groups against one another, which eventually led to violence.

Sara Robinson vs. David Atchison Sara Robinson • As a “Yankee” and “Free Soiler”, she wrote about the horrors of slavery. • While not very well known, she played a big role in the anti-slavery cause in Kansas • (Slavery must not expand. ) § § David Atchison Believed Kansas belonged only to southerners. Thought that if slavery was outlawed in Kansas, it would eventually put slavery at risk everywhere. § (Slavery must expand. )

David Atchison - Background Born in Kentucky (1807) to a modest family living on a farm. After some economic prosperity, his father eventually acquired some slaves to fill up labor on family farm. Went to Lexington Transylvania College and became interested in Law and Politics. Grew tired of life and traveled west, where he took on jobs defending many unpopular newcomers in the region. With the help of those he helped, namely the Mormons, he eventually got elected to representative in Missouri.

David Atchison – Life in Politics Helped form Democratic Party and advocated western expansion. Was eventually elected senator of Missouri. Pushed for expansion; became very popular with locals. Became known as Missouri’s “frontier” senator. Pushed for expansion of slavery. Tried very hard to repeal Missouri Compromise. Became a negative image in the North as the symbol of “Slave Power’s” influence in Congress.

David Atchison – Conflict in Kansas Context: Context Kansas-Nebraska Act passed, which allows for popular sovereignty over the topic of slavery in territories such as Kansas. As a result, many northern abolitionists, or “Yankees” stormed into Kansas in order to vote against slavery. Upon hearing about the “Yankee” threat, Atchison quickly organized together a group of armed proslavery southerners in order to counter them. In his words: “Give a horse thief, robber, or homicide a fair trial, but do hang a negro thief or abolitionist, without judge or jury. ”

The “Border Ruffians” Group mostly compromised of pro-slavery supporters from Missouri. Rallied together by David Atchison. Armed with guns and weapons. Came to Kansas in order to influence the popular sovereignty vote on slavery. Used intimidation and violence in order to influence others to vote their way. Logic: Because Missouri, which was a slave state, bordered Kansas, it would only be right for only southerners like them to vote on slavery. (No Northerners)

Sara Robinson - Background Born in Massachusetts (1827) under favorable circumstances. Unlike many women of her time, she went to college to get an education. Suffered an accident early in life that injured spine and caused problems. After some time, married Charles Robinson, her physician. With the passing of the Kansas-Nebraska act, the Yankees created the Emigrant Aid Company to fund $5 million for the creation of communities in Kansas. Charles and Sara eventually took up reigns to lead the company in Kansas.

Sara Robinson – Work in Kansas Set up communities in Kansas building schools and churches. Taught against slavery and alcohol. Eventually heard about news that a group of pro-slavery men, called the “Border Ruffians” were on their way into Kansas. These “Border Ruffians”, led by David Atchison, had come there to stop the Northern “Yankees” from voting to halt slavery’s expansion in Kansas.

The “Yankees”, Northerners Mostly composed of those living in the North who did not want slavery to spread. Enraged at the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed a possibility for slavery to spread, and created Emigrant Aid Society in response. Supplied money in order to open communities in Kansas for anti-slavery supporters who wanted to vote on slavery. Some were abolitionists, while others simply “Free Soilers”, who did not want slavery to spread. Free Soilers were not abolitionists: hated slavery and wanted land for business and work for the white man, rather than plantations.

The Vote - Results “Border Ruffians” (Proslavery Southerners) Leader: David Atchison “Yankees” Leader: Charles Robinson (Anti-slavery Northerners) Results : 6000 Ballots cast. 5400 for Slavery, 600 against slavery. Many anti-slavery protestors, including Sara Robinson were outraged at the ballot results, calling it “fixed” and “bogus. ”

Northerners Outraged When President Franklin Pierce declared the votes legitimate, the Northerners rallied together and drafted their own constitution. This new constitution apparently allowed them to abolish or override the government’s decision. Created their own state government in Kansas with Charles Robinson as governor. Meanwhile, pro-slavery southerners had already created their own state government in Kansas, approved by the U. S. government. Basically Kansas became divided, with two different state governments.

“Bleeding Kansas” Feeling threatened by proslavery forces, the antislavery communities began stocking ammunition. The next year, a group of proslavery forces moved to put down the “treasonous” Free-soil government. These men burned Lawrence, the headquarters of the free soilers to the ground and sacked it clean. In response, Brown, one of the leader of the Free Soilers responded to conflict with more conflict by gathering up armed men to fight.

The Cause – Popular Sovereignty Importance: Government decided that the masses would voice their popular opinion on the subject of slavery. Pro-slavery and anti-slavery supporters flocked into Kansas from all parts of the U. S. Mild altercations between the two groups eventually led into bloody battles that coined the term, “Bleeding Kansas. ” Question to keep in mind: Which side was at fault, in the end?

President Franklin Pierce Pushed for the Kansas-Nebraska Act through Kansas. Backed the results of the slavery vote in Kansas as legitimate. Called the Free Soilers’ government “rebellious”. Words prompted even greater conflict between Pro-slavery and Free Soiler groups.

Sara Robinson’s Importance During the debate in Kansas over slavery, Sara worked as a publicist for the Free Soilers, and wrote propaganda. Book: Kansas: Its Interior and Exterior Life, helped many join the cause. While Lawrence was being sacked, Charles and Sara were on a mission to Washington, where they were trying to deliver a letter to the president. This letter detailed the crimes committed by proslavery men in Kansas. Most of her writings depicted David Atchison as the “vile” center-piece of the conflict. In her propaganda, she exaggerated the events and depicted David Atchison as the man on the front-line who led the raid on Lawrence.

David Atchison’s Importance Helped advocate western expansion. Spurred on many southerners to join the fight for slavery and protect their southern interests and livelihood. With his influence and reputation waning, finally realized that slavery in Kansas was a losing battle. Eventually retired to his person farm back in Missouri, where he lived a quiet life.

Primary Sources – Sara Robinson Writings helped show Northeast America what was going on in Kansas and what the proslavery southerners were doing. Wrote a diary, describing her anti-slavery views. Wrote, In Kansas: Interior and Exterior, describing her version of the “sack” and looting in Lawrence. In short, while biased to an extent, her writings and actions helped contribute to how Americans in the north would eventually view slavery. Because of this, many northerners eventually began to join the cause against the expansion of slavery, eventually overwhelming the southerners’ side.

Primary Sources – David Atchison In many writings, described the abolitionists as a danger and threat to southern livelihood. Declared that there was an “Abolitionist Threat”, which helped rally proslavery Americans together for his cause. In short, most of Atchison’s writings and speeches expressed a sense of urgency against the halt of abolition of slavery. Atchison used “gruff and tough” language in order to rally up southerners against a “common enemy”, that is, the abolitionists, all so that slavery would continue to expand.

Works Cited Image 1 – http: //www. ksgenweb. org/archives/1918 ks/v 2/p 715. gif Image 2 - http: //www 1. assumption. edu/ahc/Atchison. jpg