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. In the late 1850s, the lecompton constitution of kansas territory laid bare the divisions in the u. 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. Constitution hall state historic site lecompton 2020 all. Secondary materials book, article, video documentary, etc. The lecompton legislature met in 1857 to make preparations for convening a constitutional convention. The most infamous floor brawl in the history of the u. 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. Kansas again rejected it the following august and was admitted to the union as a free state on jan. The lecompton constitution, the kansasnebraska act and bleeding kansas turmoil were major points of contention during the 1858 lincolndouglas debates for a u. Subscribers may view the full text of this article in its original form through timesmachine. 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. A political struggle to determine the future states position on slavery ensued, centred on the lecompton constitution proposed in 1857. It was drafted by proslavery advocates and included provisions to protect slaveholding in the state and to exclude free blacks from its bill of rights.
Lecompton constitution civil war on the western border. 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 united states history britannica. The purpose of this lesson is to study the lecompton constitution as it dealt with the issue of popular sovereignty. Constitution hall, erected by samuel jones in 1856, became the place where the kansas territorial government convened. On december 21, 1856 an election was held under this call, the freestate men not voting, with the result of 6,266 for the constitution with slavery and 569 for the constitution with no slavery. The lecompton constitution, kansas 1857 excerpts relating to slavery from annals of kansas, 1857. Democrats opposed to the constitution were known as anti lecompton democrats. They were the dred scott decision by the supreme court, the lecompton constitution in kansas, and john browns raid at harpers ferry. Thus the cause of the proslavery lecompton constitutional conven tion was lost.
The lecompton constitution was one of four proposed kansas state constitutions. The lecompton constitutional convention was held on september, 1857 in lecompton, kansas territory. Kansasthe lecompton constitution speech in the senate of the united states, march 4, 1858 hammond, james henry on. Kansas voters, congress, and even the president argued over this proslavery. The lecompton constitution by stephen levesque c period 10. The lower floor served as the united states land office and the upper floor was the occasional seat of the district court, as well as being used by the pro slavery kansas territorial legislature in 1857.
Constitution hall state historic site home facebook. The lecompton constitution 1857 was one of four proposed constitutions for the state of. The best things to do in lecompton for travel after. The proslavery forces won control of the constitutional convention, which met in the town of lecompton in september of that year. Speech on the admission of kansas, under the lecompton. The lecompton, kansas building known as constitution hall was built by samuel jones in 1856. The document permitted slavery article vii, excluded free blacks from living in kansas, and allowed only male citizens of the united states to vote. The lecompton constitution supported the existence of slavery in the proposed state and protected rights of slaveholders. The lecompton constitution, the second constitution drafted for kansas territory, was written by proslavery supporters. Democrats opposed to the constitution were known as. Under buchanans administration, 185761, three events befell which were like wedges riving farther and farther apart the national unity. This constitution was called the lecompton constitution because it was written in lecomton, kansas, by the prosalvery government. It was overwhelmingly defeated on january 4, 1858 by a majority of voters in the kansas territory. It contained clauses protecting slaveholding and a bill of rights excluding free blacks, and it added to the frictions leading up to the u.
A constitutional convention held at topeka came up with an constitution that did not allow for slavery. The lecompton constitution was the second constitution drafted for kansas territory and was written by proslavery supporters. Senator stephen douglas attacked the lecompton constitution, arguing that the voters of kansas should have the right to decide whether any slaves could enter their territory. Built in 1856, constitution hall is now a national landmark and a museum. Facts about lecompton lecompton was originally named bald eagle. The document was written in response to the antislavery position of the 1855 topeka constitution of james h. 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.
The other proposed state constitutions were the topeka constitution, the leavenworth constitution and the wyandotte constitution. Lecompton constitution, 1857, instrument framed in lecompton, kan. Walker was appointed governor, and a convention held at lecompton drafted a constitution. 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. During 1857 this building was one of the busiest and most important in kansas territory. In the meantime, governor john geary had resigned on march 4, 1857.
A twominute video about the creation of the lecompton constitution during the period when kansas was trying to become a state. The lecompton constitution would have made kansas a slave state. Choose from 500 different sets of lecompton constitution history flashcards on quizlet. 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. See more ideas about history, kansas and historical society.
This convention was authorized by the proslavery territorial legislature to meet at lecompton to draft a constitution. The lecompton constitution 1857 was one of four proposed constitutions for the state of kansas. 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. The secession of south carolina from the nation 1860 calendar. The lecompton constitution was a document framed in lecompton, the territorial capital of kansas, in 1857 by southern proslavery advocates of kansas statehood. Though it is not widely remembered today, just the mention of lecompton stirred deep emotions among. Kansas, through bleeding kansas and the lecompton constitution, was a western territory pushing the eastern sections of the country toward greater conflict. Speech on the admission of kansas, under the lecompton constitution book. Learn lecompton constitution history with free interactive flashcards. In the fall of 1857 october 19, the lecompton constitutional convention met and drafted a proslavery constitution in the upper story of the building. Popular sovereignty and the lecompton constitution topic. He took up the charges which has recently been made against him that he was the author of the lecompton constitution.
This new constitution was proslavery in kansas and protected the rights of slaveholders as well as. Reid, editor of the proslavery tecumseh note book and a member of that body. 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. Background of the lecompton constitution states entering the union must draw up a constitution, and the kansas territory had particular problems doing so when it moved to become a state in the late 1850s. Lecompton kansas and the constitution hall were at the center of the run up to the civil war. The question was finally settled when kansas was admitted as a free state in january 1861, but, meanwhile, bleeding kansas had furnished the newly formed republican party with a much needed antislavery. Feb 05, 2011 a twominute video about the creation of the lecompton constitution during the period when kansas was trying to become a state. Lecompton, kansas facts for kids kiddle encyclopedia. Geary resigned after it became clear that free elections would not be held to approve a new constitution. 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. Of massachusetts, on the presidentss message on the lecompton constitution i know, sir, that the president cannot be expected, in the midst of the vast duties that devolve upon him, to understand everything that has transpired in that territory.
The lecompton constitution was rejected on august 2, 1858, by a vote of 1,926 to 11,812. Full text is unavailable for this digitized archive article. The lecompton constitutionhistory of the plan of submission. 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. Creating the lecompton constitution began with choosing the delegates who would. Its resolutions denounced the lecompton constitution as a fraud upon the people, which it utterly repudiated, the socalled election of december 21 as a swindle, and the election of january 4, 1858, as a crime and a misdemeanor against the peace of this territory, and the will of the majority. Popular sovereignty and the lecompton constitution kansas. The proslavery lecompton constitution was formulated sept. The president at the time, president buchanan, owes his presidency to the southern voters. 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. Kansas constitutions kansapedia kansas historical society.
The goal of the writers of the lecompton constitution is humanitarian aid to slaves. It is quite possibly the oldest wooden building in kansas. In an instant the house was in the greatest possible. The lecompton constitution was drafted and signed in this building in 1857. Flanagan, mike, the complete idiots guide to the old west, alpha books, 1999, p. The lecompton constitution gave the voters of kansas the right to decide only whether more slaves would enter the territory. The lecompton constitution last best hope of earth. Privacy policy about wikipedia disclaimers contact wikipedia developers statistics cookie statement mobile view. House of representatives erupted as members debated the kansas territorys proslavery lecompton constitution late into the night of february 56. It was proposed for the state of kansas in response to the antislavery position of the 1855 topeka constitution and other free state advocates.
The house voted to require a new referendum in kansas in which voters could vote up or down on the entire lecompton constitution. Lecompton constitution article about lecompton constitution. What was the historical significance of the lecompton. In addition, the constitution provided for a referendum that allowed voters the choice of allowing more slaves to the territory. The downstairs was rented as the federal land office and private law offices. Douglas addressed a mass meeting at milwaukee, wisconsin. 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. In 1856, the breaking point over slavery in kansas came with. Tribune editor, published in february 1858, a special eightpage edition dealing entirely with the lecompton constitution. He feels he needs to repay them, so he endorses the kansas constitution. Kansas and the lecompton constitution paperback december 31, 1858 by israel washburn 181883 author.
642 237 720 1162 1157 1505 951 1508 897 280 1181 576 273 1252 1033 1258 113 331 1360 1153 241 1012 387 1081 439 199 814 45 948 946 1384 300