Bleeding Kansas

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 really lit the fuse of the Civil War.  The measure allowed citizens in those territories to decide whether or not to allow slavery. Pro-slavery and abolitionist settlers raced into Kansas, trying to influence the vote.  And instead of civil debate, violence broke out.  Pro-slavery forces ransacked the town of Lawrence in May 1856.  A few days later, John Brown (photo) and his followers massacred five pro-slavery men at Pottawatomie Creek. In all, an esti