Abolitionists in Kansas – Legends of America
The saga of Kansas in the mid-19th century is inextricably linked to the tumultuous narrative of abolitionism in the United States. Abolitionists, individuals driven by the moral conviction that slavery was an egregious injustice, dedicated themselves to eradicating the institution of slavery across the nation. Their activism, marked by fervent advocacy and, at times, radical action, significantly shaped the political discourse and ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War.
Early Seeds of Abolitionism
The earliest inklings of anti-slavery sentiment in the American colonies can be traced back to figures like Thomas Jefferson. Despite being a slaveholder himself, Jefferson included forceful anti-slavery language in the initial draft of the Declaration of Independence. However, this language was later excised by other delegates. Benjamin Franklin, another prominent figure who once held slaves, became a leading member of the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery, which was the first recognized abolitionist organization in the United States.
Following the American Revolution, several Northern states took decisive steps to abolish slavery. Vermont led the way in 1777, followed by Pennsylvania in 1780. States with deeper economic ties to slavery, such as New York and New Jersey, adopted gradual emancipation laws. By 1804, all Northern states had effectively abolished slavery, marking a significant milestone in the burgeoning anti-slavery movement.
The Rise of Radical Abolitionism
The year 1831 witnessed a pivotal moment in the history of abolitionism with the emergence of William Lloyd Garrison and his publication, The Liberator. This newspaper was the first in the United States to champion the immediate and unconditional abolition of slavery. Two years later, the National Anti-Slavery Society was established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, uniting abolitionists from across the country.
However, disagreements soon arose within the abolitionist movement regarding the most effective strategies for achieving emancipation. Some advocated for the gradual freeing of slaves, with compensation for slaveholders as a last resort. Others, known as radical abolitionists, demanded the immediate and unconditional liberation of all slaves, even if it required the use of force and without compensating their owners.
In 1835, those who favored slavery and the more conservative elements of society derisively labeled these extremists as "abolitionists." However, the radical abolitionists embraced the name as a badge of honor, viewing it as a symbol of their unwavering commitment to the cause. Prominent abolitionist orators such as Wendell Phillips, Gerrit Smith, and Charles Sumner emerged, using their eloquence and persuasive skills to champion the anti-slavery cause at every opportunity.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Intensification of Conflict
In 1840, the National Anti-Slavery Society fractured over the issue of forming a political party based on anti-slavery principles. From that point forward, the different factions operated independently. By the time Kansas was organized as a territory, the abolitionists – particularly the radical wing – had gained considerable strength and garnered national attention.
The passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 further inflamed the conflict over slavery. This act allowed residents of each territory to decide for themselves, through a popular vote, whether to permit slavery when the territory became a state. This concept, known as popular sovereignty, was intended to resolve the issue peacefully, but it instead led to violence and bloodshed.
The Abolitionist Struggle in Kansas
In the eyes of many pro-slavery advocates, there was little distinction between those who favored gradual emancipation and those who advocated for immediate emancipation. They often viewed all Free-State men as "abolitionists," regardless of their specific stance on the issue.
Pro-slavery sentiments were starkly expressed at a squatter meeting near Leavenworth, Kansas, on June 10, 1854, where a resolution declared that "We will afford protection to no abolitionist as a settler in Kansas." Similarly, a pro-slavery meeting in Lafayette County, Missouri, on December 15, 1854, condemned steamboats plying the Missouri River for carrying abolitionists to Kansas.
This agitation led to incidents such as the Star of the West being allowed to transport approximately 100 people from Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina to Kansas without interference in the spring of 1856. However, on its next voyage, carrying Free-State passengers, the steamboat was stopped at Lexington, Missouri, where the passengers were disarmed. Upon reaching Weston, Missouri, the steamboat was prohibited from landing. Other steamboats faced similar opposition.
In February 1855, Lawrence, Kansas, was denounced as "the home of about 400 abolitionists." At a Law and Order meeting in Leavenworth on November 15, 1855, John Calhoun proclaimed, "You yield, and you will have the most infernal government that ever cursed a land. I would rather be a painted slave over in Missouri or a serf to the Czar of Russia than have the abolitionists in power."
On October 5, 1857, elections were held for members of the Territorial Legislature. On October 23, the pro-slavery newspaper Doniphan Constitutionalist attributed the Free-State victory to the "sneaking abolitionists" who, "by order of James H. Lane," had cut loose the ferry boats at Doniphan and other locations on election day. In response, the Lawrence Republican sarcastically remarked, "Badman, that Jim Lane, to order the boats cut loose; great inconvenience to the Missourians and the Democratic Party."
At the onset of the border troubles, the Platte Argus declared that "The abolitionists will probably not be interfered with if they settle north of the 40th parallel of north latitude, but south of that line, they need not set foot."
A pro-slavery convention held in Lecompton, Kansas, on December 9, 1857, adopted resolutions condemning Governors Reeder, Geary, and Walker for their efforts to "reduce and prostitute the Democracy to the unholy ends of the abolitionists."
These examples, though numerous, illustrate that pro-slavery men made no distinction between the radical and conservative wings of the Free-State party. Anyone who opposed slavery, even if they were willing to tolerate it where it already existed, was considered an "abolitionist" – as much so as the extremist who demanded the immediate emancipation of all slaves, regardless of constitutional guarantees or principles of equity.
The Civil War and the Legacy of Abolitionism
The radical anti-slavery advocates viewed the Civil War as an anti-slavery conflict, a view they believed was validated by President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. This perspective persisted despite Lincoln’s earlier statements that his primary goal was to preserve the Union, not to abolish slavery.
The legacy of the abolitionists in Kansas is one of courage, conviction, and unwavering dedication to the cause of human freedom. Their actions, though controversial at times, played a pivotal role in shaping the course of American history and ultimately led to the abolition of slavery in the United States.
(c) Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated January 2025.
See Also:
- Bleeding Kansas
- Free-State Kansas
- Kansas-Missouri Border War Timeline
- Pro-Slavery Movement in Kansas
Sources:
- Blackmar, Frank W.; Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Standard Publishing Company, Chicago, IL 1912.
- Kansapedia
- Wikipedia