Ad Astra per Aspera
Chapter 5
Kansas becomes the 34th state
Kansas becomes a state on January 29, 1861. The daily conservative was the first newspaper to have the story. After Kansas became a state a large drought took place, and minimized crop production. Topeka is the capital city of Kansas.
Establishing a state government
When Kansas became a state, it had to create a government. Charles Robinson was elected the first governor of Kansas. The Wyandotte Constitution was patterned after the United States.
The Rules of State Government Today
There are different levels of the government in the U.S.A. Our state government is made up of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The government is the head of the executive branch.
Kansas and the Civil War
As Kansas was becoming a state the Civil War was starting. The Civil War began less than 3 months after Kansas became a state. And Abe Lincoln wanted to preserve the union.
Kansan's at war
When the Civil War started, Kansas had about 30,000 men between the ages of 18 and 45. African Americans could not serve in the union army. Four hundred men rode in to Lawrence on horse back during the Lawrence raid. Kansas was the first state in the union to enlist African Americans as soldiers.
The Civil War comes to Kansas
Tensions in Kansas and Missouri remained high. Many raids took place between states. The Lawrence raid was a very big raid. At least 140 men had died four hours after the raid.
Frontier forts in Kansas
The army built forts in the frontier. The role in the army changed again. When the war broke out many soldiers stationed in the east.
Tensions Increase
Forts were established to asset control. Indians thought Medicine Lodge was a sacred place. But Medicine Lodge didn't have any healing powers. General Sterling price wanted to capture the state for the south, and the state militia thought it was an invasion.
The End of the Frontier
The legislative had given chapters to 51 railroad companies. During the Civil War, President Lincoln approved the Pacific Railroad Bill. Three feeder lines were authorized to be built in Kansas.
Julia Louisa Lovejoy
Her family moved to Kansas, and her husband was a minister. They came to help Kansas become a free state. Her husband enlisted in the army.
Buffalo Soldiers
In Kansas, these buffalo soldiers were given the job of evicting squatters who attempted to settle on the Indian land. They served in segregated regiments, under the command of white officers, in two black cavalry units.