Bleeding Kansas: Contested Liberty in the Civil War Era

by Nicole Etcheson

Few people would have expected bloodshed in Kansas Territory. After all, it had few slaves and showed few signs that slavery would even flourish. But civil war tore this territory apart in the 1850s and 60s, and "Bleeding Kansas" became a forbidding symbol for the nationwide clash over slavery that followed.

Many free-state Kansans seemed to care little about slaves, and many proslavery Kansans owned not a single slave. But the failed promise of the Kansas-Nebraska Act-when fraud in local elections subverted the settlers' right to choose whether Kansas would be a slave or free state-fanned the flames of war. While other writers have cited slavery or economics as the cause of unrest, Nicole Etcheson seeks to revise our understanding of this era by focusing on whites' concerns over their political liberties. The first comprehensive account of "Bleeding Kansas" in more than thirty years, her study re-examines the debate over slavery expansion to emphasize issues of popular sovereignty rather than slavery's moral or economic dimensions.

The free-state movement was a coalition of settlers who favored black rights and others who wanted the territory only for whites, but all were united by the conviction that their political rights were violated by nonresident voting and by Democratic presidents' heavy-handed administration of the territories. Etcheson argues that participants on both sides of the Kansas conflict believed they fought to preserve the liberties secured by the American Revolution and that violence erupted because each side feared the loss of meaningful self-governance.

Bleeding Kansas is a gripping account of events and people-rabble-rousing Jim Lane, zealot John Brown, Sheriff Sam Jones, and others-that examines the social milieu of the settlers along with the political ideas they developed. Covering the period from the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act to the 1879 Exoduster Migration, it traces the complex interactions among groups inside and outside the territory, creating a comprehensive political, social, and intellectual history of this tumultuous period in the state's history.

As Etcheson demonstrates, the struggle over the political liberties of whites may have heightened the turmoil but led eventually to a broadening of the definition of freedom to include blacks. Her insightful re-examination sheds new light on this era and is essential reading for anyone interested in the ideological origins of the Civil War.

Genres: History, Civil War, American History, Nonfiction, American Civil War, War

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Tim Null · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm just your average idiot who wanted to learn a little bit about Kansas history because both my parents were raised in Kansas, and they both had a little bit of a weird streak. I was curious if their weird streaks were genetic or environmental. It ended up that I couldn't find the answer to that question in Nicole Etcheson's book. I would guess that her book started as a doctoral dissertation that eventually morphed into a full-blown book.

I would say this book is meant for true historians and history buffs with very specific and detailed needs.

[Geve_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough telling of Kansas as a territory, and as a battleground for freedom or for the "right" to own other humans (for some reason also described as freedom) during the abolition period prior to the Civil War.

I particularly "enjoyed" the direct quotes from newspapers or journals, and the language used has honestly not changed at all. It's discouraging to read about the exact same conversations happening regarding abolition as happen today with literally any contentious political situation. Same wording, same arguments, same shit different day.

Also greatly enjoyed how John Brown was an insane murdering psycho, as described by insane murdering psychos who were definitely correct in doing their righteous murders in order to keep slaves. Classic 'my freedom fighter is your guerilla terrorist'.

The first 3/4 of the book were compelling, but it did lull a bit during the legislative slog. Overall, very good and informative read.

[Martin Lowery · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nicole Etcheson tells an interesting story about an important part of pre-Civil War history. Her writing style and inability to narrate a cohesive story suffers throughout as she jumps from one character to the next, from one event to another event, without applying much needed context. To really enjoy this book, you might need to have vast knowledge on the time period, but even if, the book is as dry as a wikipedia entry.

[Monte Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a scholarly book on Kansas from 1854-1860 plus one chapter on the effect of the Civil War on the Missouri-Kansas border. It is very well documented with almost 100 pages of footnotes and bibliography. You get a good sense of the politics in Washington, Kansas territory, and Missouri. It lays out a good timeline on how immigration developed and how the various pro-slavery and free state groups grew and fought, both politically and reality. This period in our history was the most divisive and Bleeding Kansas was a jump start to our Civil War. It is a fascinating time and this book does a good job of painting the picture.

[Jack Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first purchased this book out of academic necessity a couple years ago, requiring its several pages of information on the abolitionist guerrilla fighter John Brown for a university capstone paper I was writing on the man. I knew next-to-nothing about the frontier conflict, whose place in history immediately before and tangled within the American Civil War has diminished its contemporary recognition when compared to the much larger war, but what little I read of the struggle within this book interested me to no end.

It really is a shame that I've only just now gotten around to finishing the whole thing. Bleeding Kansas is a well-written and efficiently told account of the eponymous state's rough birth, which manifested itself in the flames of a bitter years-long guerrilla conflict between pro- and antislavery settlers from all parts of the increasingly divided United States. Etcheson portrays both sides with unflinching objectivity, delving into heinous acts committed by Northerners and Southerners alike.

This is a pretty great book about a piece of American history that I wish they taught in school more consistently. What happened in Kansas Territory from 1856 onwards contributed immensely to the evolving conversation over the American institution of slavery, and - by extension - the hastening and worsening of the Civil War itself.

Crazy stuff.

I give this book 4 tone-deaf speeches about popular sovereignty out of 5 farmer conventions that somehow turn into extralegal governments with separate constitutions and elections.

[Mac Quast · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5 Stars) Let me start off with this, I am a lifelong true blue Kansas Jayhawk through and through, and the burning hatred I have for the state (and especially, the University) of Missouri (outside of a couple of blocks in KC and the city of St. Louis) knows know bounds. With that caveat identified, I loved this book. A bit of a slog at times, but the perfect introduction to a subject that I think was a MAJOR factor in the start of the Civil War, which gets overshadowed a lot, and is most definitely (maybe especially) in Kansas (and Missouri) not talked about enough. The author was fair to both sides and left the reader to make the ultimate conclusion of who was right (the Kansans and John Brown) while still accurately making a valid historical argument. I would highly recommend to anyone interested in the Civil War Period as a second level, advanced reading and more generally anyone at all who lives in Kansas or Western Missouri.

[Kim Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I found the very beginning of the book really confusing. It almost seemed like Etcheson was saying that Bleeding Kansas wasn't about slavery, but then the rest of the book talked about how it was. As I went further along, I thought there were some things that were really interesting. Others, less so. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had been able to read it through more quickly, but I was reading it when I didn't have a lot of time to read, which made it pretty disjointed. There were names and situations that I didn't remember from reading period to reading period, so I was somewhat confused. I also had a question about some death toll numbers in Kansas that I was hoping to get answered by reading this book. Instead, I now have more questions.

All of that said, it was pretty good, and I found some things I will be able to use in class.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good basic account of what happened in bleeding Kansas. She puts forward a fascinating thesis, that what happened in Kansas is the result of trying to fight for freedom (understood by both sides as the ability to freely vote, and the status of slavery) for white people, which comes to broaden to include rights for black people. She doesn't interact with CRT literature much, but nonetheless some of her insights lend into some CRT contentions such as that what we normally celebrate as the acquisition of rights for racial minorities has more to do with the vindication of the rights of a section of the majority.

[Mike Keil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent work on how Popular Sovereignty and liberty meant different thing to different people and groups and how that played out in early Kansas history. Required reading for anyone who wants to have a more thorough understanding of Kansas history and the prelude to the Civil War.

[Andy May · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent history of the bleeding Kansas period by a well-known historian. It is very well researched and the bibliography is invaluable. My only complaint is that, while she explains the events well, she doesn't describe the people very well. This makes the book rather dry.

[Tim Shepard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well detailed book on the events of Bleeding Kansas. Obviously well researched. Worth reading if you are interested in the events of the early portion of Kansas History and how they shaped the United States and the coming Civil War.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched account of the events leading up to Bleeding Kansas and the role in the outbreak of Civil War. At times the prose is a bit too comprehensive (covering each event) and feels a bit more academic in scope vs. readable.

[Steve Moran · Rating 4 out of 5]

She does a pretty good job of defending her thesis. I enjoyed reading it.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book that describes the effect of Bleeding Kansas on leading to the Civil War. I read it for the class I'm teaching this semester.

[Kate Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

For American history buffs, this tells the story before the story of the Civil War. Kansas is where it really began, if you consider the starting point of the Civil War to be the first time pro-slavery and anti-slavery armies, however small, faced off against each other. When the Kansas-Nebraska Act became law in 1854, it seemed like a good idea to a lot of politicians to let settlers decide whether to allow slavery in the new territory. In practice, however, it was an invitation to corruption and violence. Etcheson's recounting of how it all played out is well-researched, concise, and readable throughout.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Etcheson's major contribution in Bleeding Kansas is a keen demonstration of the absolute bankruptcy of popular sovereignty in determining the status of slavery in Kansas. A book more of detail and narrative than theory or broad argument it demonstrates the movement of free soil advocates from pacifist and free soil to more violent and also abolitionist tendencies. John Brown is central to the tale and Harper's Ferry and the Civil War are also included to conclude the story.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book that clearly demonstrates how the causes of the American Civil War went beyond slavery and black civil rights and equally stemmed from debates over the rights and freedoms of whites. Kansas, the then-frontier of the United States, presents an enthralling backdrop for the turmoil and chaos which preceded the civil war proper and Etchison recounts the political and violent struggles wages over this part of America in this very readable and very enjoyable account.

[Robert Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good "new" history of the Territorial period (it's been some time since it came out). Follows in the current view that the Free-State movement was not abolitionist, but comprised of abolitionists and the less radical Westerners. My one concern is the conclusion that Kansas was radicalized by the Territorial struggle. Perhaps so during the Civil War, but not after.

[Mrs. Hassig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really interesting book once you get past the Kansas Nebraska Act of 1854. It takes forever but once you are through and into what actually happens because of it it gets better! This is definitely not middle school level but I'll definitely use some of the information in my teaching. I also got to meet the author and she was awesome! And not from Kansas - Indiana!

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book began a bit slow, but the background was needed. Overall the book was very informative and compelling. The Civil War began in Kansas. I have a better understanding of why the Republican Party is the majority party in Kansas. I recommend it.

[Bo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Etcheson has researched well. This stands as a dull read, however.

[Liz Derrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Painstakingly researched, incredibly detailed, and remarkably even-handed. A bit on the dry side, but that's hardly surprising.