PRESENTATION OUTLINE
In 1854, Right after the Kansas-Nebraska act passed, pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups rushed into Kansas. A pro slavery legislature was elected.
Although only about 1,500 voters lived in Kansas at the time, more than 6,000 people cast ballots.
Thousands of pro-slavery supporters from Missouri crossed the border just to vote in the election.
These Missourians traveled in armed groups and became known as border ruffians.
Soon, the new Kansas legislature passed laws supporting slavery. One law even restricted political office to pro-slavery candidates.
The antislavery people refused to accept these laws. Instead they armed themselves , held their own elections,and adopted a constitution that banned slavery.
By January 1856, rival governments existed in Kansas one for and one against slavery.
