1. Ad astra per aspera

2. Kansas becomes a state Kansas becomes a FREE state on January 29, 1861
To the east, they have the hostilities of proslave Missouri
To the west, they had the wild and unknown Indian frontier
Charles Robinson is the first governor of Kansas
For a state constitution, the Wyandotte one was chosen

3. “To the stars through difficulty”
The Latin motto of Kansas translates into “To the stars through difficulty”

4. Clarina Nichols
Came to the Kansas Territory with the New England Emigrants
Though women had few rights at the time, she spoke out in public places against slavery and in favor of women’s rights
She got the women of Kansas rights to custody over their children and a voice in education

5. The Civil War begins
Three months after Kansas became a state, the Civil War began
James Lane was one of Kansas’ first senators and also someone who formed a protection unit for President Lincoln
2/3 of the men from Kansas volunteered to fight for the Union
Kansas had the highest death toll of any state in the Union

6. African Americans in the war
Kansas was the first state in the Union to enlist African Americans as soldiers
The First Kansas Colored Infantry was the first black company to fight alongside white units

7. Quantrill’s Raid on Lawrence
Guerrilla Warfare- Raiding, ambushes, surprise attacks rather than full military battles
A Confederate troop led by Quantrill launched a guerrilla attack on Lawrence in 1863
Every man or boy they found they killed
Over 200 ended up dead and the town was left burning

8. The Battle of Mine Creek
Order Number 11- Cleared all settlers out of the four western Missouri counties
The Union wanted to prevent raids across the border
Missouri, though a slave state, was still part of the Union
General Sterling Price led Southern troops into Missouri hoping to capture the state for the Confederacy

9. Battle of Mine Creek
Price was ordered to exit Missouri through Kansas, stealing animals and resources along the way
Because of these extra burdens, when trying to escape, the Southern army was caught up by the Union
2,500 Union soldiers defeated 7,000 Confederates

10. Beecher Bibles
The Confederacy had access to squirrel rifles, and army muskets
The Union had superior Sharps carbine rifles
To disguise these guns when shipping them, Henry Ward Beecher transported them labeled as bibles
His superior guns became known as “Beecher Bibles”