Reading 51 Kansas and the Two Cultures

The issue of slavery has not disappeared. While Democrats wanted to expand it, Republicans wanted to stop slavery’s advancement into the West.

Competing for Kansas
After the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) many people migrated into Kansas. David Atchison was a Democrat who wanted to protect slavery in the territories, and under his leadership, many societies formed in Missouri to challenge the Free Soilers entering Kansas. Voting ballots doubled while only 20 of 600 voters were legal due to intimidation. In Topeka, a free-soil government was formed banning blacks form the state. Despite these events, President Peirce did nothing when he could have easily nullified illegal elections. Why would he choose to not interfere with the slavery debate residing in Kansas?

“Bleeding Kansas”
A poet named Walt Whitman, wrote about his faith in American Democracy, however in 1850 his faith faded when he realized the issues within America would bring on the “red blood of civil war.” On May 1856 a mob of anti free-soilers destroyed the town of Lawrence. A few days later John Brown led a small band of men and killed five men with swords, claiming he was doing God’s will. Abolitionist Charles Sumner, a senator, was attacked by Congressman Preston Brooks with a cane after Sumner insulted Brooks nephew, Andrew Butler. Despite Brooks senseless beating of Sumner, he was praised by pro-slavery citizens. What could peaceful citizens living in Kansas do against such violence?

Northern Views and Visions
The North viewed themselves as self-made men and women who believed in values such as respect for rights, rule of law, and morality based from religion. They valued a government which guaranteed rights to free men and promoted industrial growth, expansion of railroads and immigration. Northerners believed that slavery was “the root of all evil” because it removed freedom from men. Many people in the North hated proslavery southerners.

The Southern Perspective
Unlike Northerners who valued economic growth, Southerners valued social pursuits. “The South saw itself as an ordered society guided by the planters’ genteel code.” The south believed in a democratic view was best.