In addition, the constitution provided for a referendum that allowed voters the choice of allowing more slaves to the territory. Under buchanans administration, 185761, three events befell which were like wedges riving farther and farther apart the national unity. Geary resigned after it became clear that free elections would not be held to approve a new constitution. Built in 1856, constitution hall is now a national landmark and a museum. See more ideas about history, kansas and historical society. He took up the charges which has recently been made against him that he was the author of the lecompton constitution. During his term, buchanan supported the lecompton constitution to admit kansas as a slave state, weathered the panic of 1857, and did nothing to prevent south carolinas secession from the union. Virginia ginger marshall rothwell, alva john pletcher, edward cook, judith ann hoage, corrine l fleming. Popular sovereignty and the lecompton constitution topic. The president at the time, president buchanan, owes his presidency to the southern voters. The proslaveryites in kansas created the lecompton constitution so that they and their slaves would be protected even if there would be no slavery. Flanagan, mike, the complete idiots guide to the old west, alpha books, 1999, p. The lecompton constitution was a controversial and disputed legal document of the kansas territory that became the focus of a great national crisis as the united states split over the issue of slavery in the decade before the civil war.
He feels he needs to repay them, so he endorses the kansas constitution. The legislature drew up the lecompton constitution. Astute observers of politics in the late 1850s realized this, but none could have expected that within a matter of a few years, a second american revolution would begin. The downstairs was rented as the federal land office and private law offices. The document was worded that whether it was voted up or down, slavery in some form was protected. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 625 lecompton was the former territorial capital of kansas from 185561, and during much of the 1850s, the douglas county seat. As a result, the lecompton constitution, with is provisions for slavery, was adopted. When the lecompton constitution was resubmitted to the people of kansas for a vote, the results of the referendum were devastating to the proslave faction, and to the hideous embarrassment of. During his tenure, seven southern states seceded from the union and the. In disagreement, congress sent the lecompton constitution back to the voters of kansas, where this time it was roundly defeated at the polls. Speech on the admission of kansas, under the lecompton. The purpose of this lesson is to study the lecompton constitution as it dealt with the issue of popular sovereignty. The lecompton constitution, kansas 1857 excerpts relating to slavery from annals of kansas, 1857.
Speech on the admission of kansas, under the lecompton constitution book. It is quite possibly the oldest wooden building in kansas. The lecompton constitution was created in kansas which held almost a third of slaves population. When the kansas territory was ready to seek admission to the union in 1857, the key issue was whether it would be a free state or a slave state. Learn lecompton constitution history with free interactive flashcards. With precisely the same ena bling act that kansas has, a vote of the people could be at once taken on the propriety of form ing a state constitution. In the meantime, governor john geary had resigned on march 4, 1857. It contained clauses protecting slaveholding and a bill of rights excluding free blacks, and it added to the frictions leading up to the u. Choose from 500 different sets of lecompton constitution history flashcards on quizlet.
In the fall of 1857 october 19, the lecompton constitutional convention met and drafted a proslavery constitution in the upper story of the building. What was the effect of bleeding kansas on the democratic party. Facts about lecompton lecompton was originally named bald eagle. The proslavery lecompton constitution was formulated sept. James buchanan 17911868, americas 15th president, was in office from 1857 to 1861. James buchanan was born in a log cabin in cove gap, pennsylvania now buchanans birthplace state park, in franklin county, on april 23, 1791, to james buchanan sr. Reid, editor of the proslavery tecumseh note book and a member of that body. The lecompton constitution was rejected by a vote in january 1858, and.
Oct 17, 2011 the senate approved the lecompton constitution over the nearfatal opposition of stephen douglas, who felt the documents procedural history made a mockery of popular sovereignty. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. In the late 1850s, the lecompton constitution of kansas territory laid bare the divisions in the u. His parents were both of ulster scot descent, his father having emigrated from milford, county donegal, ireland, in 1783. While the debate shifted to the national scene, delegates for the territorys third constitutional convention were elected on march 9 and assembled in leavenworth on march 25, 1858. The right of property is before and higher than any constitutional sanction, and the right of the owner of a slave to such slave and its increase is. The right of property is before and higher than any constitutional sanction, and the right of the owner of a slave to such slave and its increase is the same and as inviolable as the. Wyandotte constitution, in the period immediately preceding the american civil war, document under which kansas was admitted to the union as a free state jan. Kansas began the process of beginning to apply for statehood in late summer 1857. The right of property is before and higher than any constitutional sanction, and the right of the owner of a slave to such slave and its increase is the same and as inviolable as the right of the owner of any property whatever.
Stephen arnold douglas, minority report on the kansaslecompton constitution senator stephen douglas, as a member of the committee on the territories, presented this report, which analyzed the lecompton and topeka constitutional rivalry, for the consideration of the president. After taking office in 1857, president james buchanan appointed robert j. The lecompton constitution last best hope of earth. The kansas historical society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the states history. Lecompton constitution civil war on the western border. The other proposed state constitutions were the topeka constitution, the leavenworth constitution and the wyandotte constitution. The lecompton constitution was drafted and signed in this building in 1857. What was so important about the lecompton constitution. Democrats opposed to the constitution were known as anti lecompton democrats. Thus the cause of the proslavery lecompton constitutional conven tion was lost.
Drawn up at wyandotte now part of kansas city in july 1859, it rejected. The lecompton constitution supported the existence of slavery in the proposed state and protected rights of slaveholders. Also available in digital form on the library of congress web site. Jones, the proslavery sheriff tasked with keeping the peace in douglas county in the 1850s. A former senator from mississippi who was selected as the first president of the confederacy in 1861. The document was written in response to the anti slavery position of the 1855 topeka constitution of james h.
Kansas again rejected it the following august and was admitted to the union as a free state on jan. Kansasthe lecompton constitution speech in the senate of the united states, march 4, 1858 hammond, james henry on. As presented to congress, the lecompton constitution provided for the admission of kansas as a slave state the fanatical abolitionist john brown made his first entry into violent antislavery politics by. Lecompton kansas birthplace of the civil war and where. Even thought the territorial governor of kansas at that time does not necessarily open about fighting of slavery, he still choose to step down from his position rather than having to implement it. Proslavery forces within the state drew up the socalled lecompton constitution at a convention which free soil parties boycotted. The lecompton legislature met in 1857 to make preparations for convening a constitutional convention. The lecompton constitution 1857 was one of four proposed constitutions for the state of. First, the citizens had to come up with and ratify a state constitution. Constitution hall kansapedia kansas historical society. Wyandotte constitution united states history britannica. The lecompton constitution after a few years of political wrangling, by 1857 voters in kansas territory elected delegates to a constitutional convention in lecompton. When they finished this lecompton constitution, they then applied for statehood as a slave state. Delivered in the senate of the united states, march 16, 1858 classic reprint george ellis pugh on.
Though it is not widely remembered today, just the mention of lecompton stirred deep emotions among americans in the late 1850s. The lecompton constitution was the second of four proposed constitutions for the state of kansas it was preceded by the topeka constitution and was followed by the leavenworth and wyandotte constitutions, the wyandotte becoming the kansas state constitution. Pugh, of ohio, on the kansas lecompton constitution. The lecompton constitutional convention was held on september, 1857 in lecompton, kansas territory. Constitution hall state historic site lecompton 2020 all. Lecompton constitution, 1857, instrument framed in lecompton, kan. The lecompton constitution was a controversial and disputed legal document of the kansas territory that became the focus of a great national crisis as the united states split over the issue of slaveryin the decade before the civil war. Bleeding kansas 2019 program series announced constitution hall state historic site, historic lecompton, 2pm sundays.
Bleeding kansas is normally surrounded by quotation marks. Although kansans in that year once and for all rejected the proslavery lecompton constitution, such violence continued on a smaller scale into. The senate approved the lecompton constitution over the nearfatal opposition of stephen douglas, who felt the documents procedural history made a mockery of popular sovereignty. Lecompton constitution proslavery constitution written for kansas admission to the union in opposition to the antislavery topeka constitution. Lecompton constitution article about lecompton constitution.
The lecompton constitution was the second constitution drafted for kansas territory and was written by proslavery supporters. What was the historical significance of the lecompton. President buchanan accepted the constitution immediately and welcomed kansas into the union. The lecompton constitution was a proslavery document, pushed through by fraud, which congress did not approve the lecompton constitution was a proslavery constitution which was written in order to admit the state of kansas to the union that was opposed to the topeka constitution which was antislavery. The lecompton constitution, the second constitution drafted for kansas territory, was written by proslavery supporters. The first post office in lecompton was established in september, 1855. The lecompton constitution was a document framed in lecompton, the territorial capital of kansas, in 1857 by southern proslavery advocates of kansas statehood. The lecompton constitution was the second of four proposed constitutions for the state of kansas. Kansasthe lecompton constitution speech in the senate of the united states, march 4, 1858. In the seven years that kansas was a territory, six men served as territorial governor.
Constitution hall state historic site home facebook. Privacy policy about wikipedia disclaimers contact wikipedia developers statistics cookie statement mobile view. The displays and information provided at the constitution hall help to bring those events to life and provide a personal experience that puts you in the middle of it all. The document permitted slavery article vii, excluded free blacks from living in kansas, and allowed only male citizens of the united states to vote. From 1854 until 1858, the town served as the seat of douglas county. The best things to do in lecompton for travel after. The lecompton constitution was preceded by the topeka constitution and was followed by the leavenworth and wyandotte constitutions, the wyandotte becoming the kansas state constitution. John brown, pottawatomie creek, lecompton constitution 3. The house voted to require a new referendum in kansas in which voters could vote up or down on the entire lecompton constitution. Douglas addressed a mass meeting at milwaukee, wisconsin. Lecompton constitution united states history britannica. The proslavery forces won control of the constitutional convention, which met in the town of lecompton in september of that year. They were the dred scott decision by the supreme court, the lecompton constitution in kansas, and john browns raid at harpers ferry. Full text of kansas and the lecompton constitution.
In the fall of 1857, a convention met in constitution hall and drafted the famous lecompton constitution, which would have admitted kansas as a slave state. Printed by jotham meeker at shawnee mission, this is the first book in english. Kansasthe lecompton constitution speech in the senate. Popular sovereignty and the lecompton constitution kansas. The lecompton constitution was rejected on august 2, 1858, by a vote of 1,926 to 11,812. The constitution was adopted by the convention at leavenworth on april 3, 1858, and by the people at an election held may 18, 1858 all while the lecompton constitution was still under consideration. This constitution was the most radically progressive of the four proposed, outlawing slavery and providing a framework for womens rights. Though it is not widely remembered today, just the mention of lecompton stirred deep emotions among. The document was written in response to the antislavery position of the 1855 topeka constitution of james h.
Kansas constitutions kansapedia kansas historical society. House resolution recognizes 155th anniversary of house rejection of lecompton constitution one of a kind map collection at territorial capital museum obits. Constitution hall, erected by samuel jones in 1856, became the place where the kansas territorial government convened. A series of talks and dramatic interpretations on the violent territorial and civil was of kansas and the nation, 18541865. List of books and articles about kansas history online. This constitution was called the lecompton constitution because it was written in lecomton, kansas, by the prosalvery government. Lecompton kansas and the constitution hall were at the center of the run up to the civil war. Although the lecompton constitution seems to be about the issue of slavery in the state of kansas, the issue would have to be decided by the people of the state. In this edition, page numbers are just like the physical edition. Constitution hall state historic site lecompton 2020. So who was the author that either said it or wrote it. Kansas, through bleeding kansas and the lecompton constitution, was a western territory pushing the eastern sections of the country toward greater conflict. The lecompton constitution was one of four proposed kansas state constitutions. Lecompton constitution hall, also known as constitution hall, is a building in lecompton, kansas that played a role in the longrunning bleeding kansas crisis.
In the event the lecompton reenactors are ever asked to explain the origin of this phrase, following a performance of our plays bleeding kansas or kansas territory, the following information might be helpful. Dec 31, 2012 the lecompton constitution was one of four proposed kansas state constitutions. Following the violence in kansas known as bleeding kansas, there was a question of whether the territory would be admitted as a free state or slave state. In 1858, however, the republicandominated congress refused to admit kansas on the grounds that border ruffians had rigged the election.
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