Bleeding Kansas
"Bleeding Kansas" is a term that is used to refer to the conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers in the state of Kansas in the 1850's. Activists from both sides rushed to Kansas to help decide the state's view on slavery. Please read the following excerpt from the Wikipedia entry on the topic to refresh your memory before continuing.
Bleeding Kansas, sometimes referred to in history as Bloody Kansas or the Border War, was a sequence of violent events involving Free-Staters (anti-slavery) and pro-slavery "Border Ruffians" elements that took place in Kansas Territory and the western frontier towns of the U.S. state of Missouri between roughly 1854 and 1858 attempting to influence whether Kansas would enter the Union as a free or slave state. The term "Bleeding Kansas" was coined by Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune. The events in Bleeding Kansas directly presaged the American Civil War.
Your task during this activity is to write a letter to the editor of a national newspaper from the perspective of a pro-slavery or anti-slavery settler in Kansas trying to convince the public to share your view. You will complete this task using the accompanying wiki site for this course.
1. Begin by reading the following articles about Bleeding Kansas:
Africans in America - Bleeding Kansas
Fort Scott National Historic Site - Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas - A Narrative Guide to the Sources
James Horton on Bleeding Kansas
Keep the following questions in mind while reading the articles:
- What were the arguments from each side about the future of slavery in Kansas?
- What means did each side use to try to convince others?
- How might the situation in Kansas appear to a national audience?
2. Use the following RAFT format to make a draft of your letter to the editor:
Role- Pro-Slavery or Anti-Slavery Kansas settler
Audience- national newspaper audience
Format- letter to the editor
Topic- Should slavery be allowed in Kansas?
Be sure to write accurately as your chosen role!
3. Access the companion wiki for this website.
4. Click on either the "Pro-Slavery Letters" or "Anti-Slavery Letters" link on the left of the page.
5. Click on "Edit This Page" near the top of the page and scroll down to the bottom of the text box.
6. Type your letter to the editor (be sure to identify yourself as well), and click on "Save" in the lower right corner.
You can use the rubric below to help you complete this activity.
Score: |
Criteria: |
4 |
Students create a document that includes:
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3 |
Students create a document that includes:
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2 |
Students create a document that includes:
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1 |
Students create a document that includes:
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