Tales of the Border War Trivia Quiz

Answer: Missouri Compromise

Tensions between regional areas in the United States, evident as early as 1820, ended the time in American history which is known as the Era of Good Feelings. Eventually the territories in the Louisiana Purchase would petition for statehood, and what should be done about the institution of slavery? The admittance of one free state (Maine) would tip the balance of power between the North and South in Congress; what would be the best answer to the problem? It was decided in the Missouri Compromise that Maine would be allowed admittance to the Union as a free state, and Missouri would enter as a state with no restrictions on the institution of slavery.

Answer: Kansas-Nebraska Act

Originally proposed in an attempt to promote westward settlement so that plans for a trans-continental railroad could be made, the Kansas-Nebraska Act hurled the area into a different kind of conflict. If settlers were allowed to decide by popular sovereignty or popular vote whether or not the institution of slavery would exist in the area, what would happen in Congress if both territories chose the same course? In addition the Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise which had, as one of its provisions, specified that slavery could not exist north of latitude 36°30´; this set the stage for a conflict in which many innocent people would die before any type of resolution could be found.

William Seward, future Secretary of State under President Lincoln and a senator in 1854 when the Act was passed, might have stirred up the situation when he issued this statement, "Come on, then, gentlemen of the slave states. Since there is no escaping your challenge, we accept it in the name of freedom. We will engage in competition for the virgin soil of Kansas, and God give the victory to the side which is stronger in numbers, as it is in right".

Answer: Bleeding Kansas

While it is extremely difficult, due to the nature of the fighting, to estimate the number of casualties in the Border War, one fact is certain: both Kansas and Missouri bled. Some sources put the number of deaths between 1854-1859 at fifty, while others say the number could be as high as two hundred.

Although those numbers might seem low in comparison to any number of modern-day border wars, it must be remembered that hostilities in the region were not settled by 1859; when the Civil War broke out, attacks by partisan groups on both sides escalated and battles between the Union and Confederate armies were fought.

Answer: New England Emigrant Aid Company

Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the New England Emigrant Aid Company was formed in order to attempt to populate Kansas with abolitionists. After Congress decided that the issue of slavery would be decided by popular sovereignty, Eli Thayer began the New England Emigrant Aid Company, hoping to be able to send 20,000 immigrants a year to the new Kansas Territory, with people settling around Manhattan, Topeka, and other abolitionist strongholds.

There was another company goal; the anti-slavery settlers were to buy up as much land as possible, and then sell it at a profit which, of course, was to be sent back to the New England Emigrant Aid Company. Ultimately the company never achieved its goal in numbers or profit, however, it did spur on the Border War conflict with pro-slavery neighbors in Missouri.

Answer: Lawrence

One of the strongholds of the anti-slavery movement, Lawrence, was attacked by partisans at least twice during the Border War. The first conflict, with roots beginning in 1855, occurred in May 1856. Charles Dow, who became the first European settler murdered in Kansas after it became a territory, was a free-soiler, who was killed by Franklin Coleman over a land dispute.

This murder gave impetus to a chain reaction of consequences; one of the results of the incident was the first raid on Lawrence.

Although a confrontation immediately after the murder was avoided, the town continued to be the focus of bushwhacker raids. The raid in May 1956 resulted in damaged newspaper presses, and the burning of the Free State Hotel.

Answer: Border Ruffians

Border Ruffians were pro-slavery settlers who came to Kansas, mostly from Missouri. Given the name from abolitionists in Kansas, as well as the North, the Border Ruffians did attempt to disrupt elections and attack free-soil settlements in Kansas. The truth of the matter is that many of the Border Ruffians were too poor to own slaves, but they did hate Yankees and abolitionists.

In addition, they feared free blacks who were also settling the area.

Answer: Quantrill's Raiders

Actually the Border War predated the beginning of the Civil War in the United States, however, once battles had been fought in Missouri and Arkansas, the conflict between the partisan groups in Kansas became more intense. The Confederate government passed the Partisan Ranger Act in 1862, which was aimed at recruiting partisans (guerillas, bushwhackers) in the Confederate Army; William Quantrill was made a Captain in the Confederate army. In 1863, Quantrill's Raiders, a group of approximately 400 partisan fighters led by William Quantrill, entered Lawrence, Kansas, due to an incident involving the group's kinfolk. The town had not only outlawed the the group, but had also imprisoned some of the group's female relatives, who were being held in a Kansas City, Missouri, home. Many of the women were killed or injured when the home collapsed on top of them. During the raid on Lawrence, approximately 180 of the townspeople were killed. Even the Confederate government was shocked by the retaliatory attack, and Quantrill's Raiders essentially splintered into smaller bands after the attack on Lawrence.

Two of the more famous members of Quantrill's Raiders were Jesse and Frank James.

Answer: Jayhawkers

Although the origin of the name is uncertain, the term "Jayhawker" is still used today to describe people from Kansas who are native-born, or graduate from the University of Kansas. Some believe the term is related to John Jay, however, the term was published as being slang in the late 1850s; "jayhawking" became widely used as a synonym for stealing. Confederates, however, used the term for those who performed anti-slavery atrocities along the Kansas/Missouri border.

In 1861, Osceola, Missouri, was sacked by Jayhawkers; this incident is portrayed in the movie, "Outlaw Josey Wales".

After the town was burned, most of the people moved away, and it has never regained its population. Incidentally, Jayhawkers are also known as "Red Legs", due to the red stockings that were part of their uniform.

Answer: Sharps rifles

Sharps rifles, known for their long-range accuracy, were manufactured in Hartford, Connecticut, and used by many Union regiments during the Civil War. Reportedly the favorite rifle used by Union sharpshooters, the Sharps rifle was a falling block action weapon, which held only one round of ammunition, and had to be reloaded after each shot.

The rifles were sent to Kansas by Henry Ward Beecher in boxes that were labeled as "Bibles", as well as "Tools", "German Immigrant Trunks", and "Machinery".

Henry Ward Beecher's sister, Harriet Beecher Stowe, was the author of the famous book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin". When President Lincoln met her in 1862, her son claimed the President said, "so you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war."

Answer: Battle at Mine Creek

Also known as the Battle of Osage, the Battle at Mine Creek took place on October 25, 1864, and was part of the action known as Price's Raid. The Confederate Major General Sterling Price led his Army of Missouri into Kansas after being defeated at the Battle of Westport near Kansas City. While camped at Trading Post, Kansas, Price's army was attacked, and once again at Mine Creek, while trying to cross with desperately needed supplies for the Confederacy. Although severely outnumbered, the Union army only suffered 100 casualties as compared to the Confederate 1,200. Price's Raid was a complete and total failure.

By the way, the other battles listed were all fought in Missouri. Did you know that Missouri holds the dubious distinction of having the third most Civil War battles after Virginia and Tennessee?