Historic/Border War Timeline - Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area

1800

July 4, 1856

Dispersal of Free State LegislatureArmy troops under Col. E.V. Sumner assemble in front of Constitution Hall-Topeka to break-up the Free State legislature in session.

1801

President: Thomas Jefferson

1802

1803

Louisiana Purchase

Louisiana PurchaseThe United States bought land that later became Kansas, Missouri and all or part of 12 other states.

1804

1804 - 1806

Lewis & Clark ExpeditionThe Corps of Discovery explored the Missouri River to its headwaters and continued on to the Pacific Ocean before returning east.

1805

1806

1807

1808

Slave importation is legally abolished

1809

President: James Madison

1810

1811

1812

1812 - 1815

War of 1812The War broke down Native American resistance in the Old Northwest Territory. It involved tribes that would later be removed to Missouri and Kansas and set off a period of Indian removal.

1813

1814

1815

1816

1817

President: James Monroe

1818

1819

1820

Missouri Compromise

Missouri CompromiseIn an effort to preserve the balance of power in Congress between slave and free states, the Missouri Compromise was passed admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. The compromise also prohibited slavery in any future states carved out of the remaining northern portion of the vast Louisiana Purchase Territory. Throughout the pre-Civil War period and during the war, Missourians were sharply divided in their opinions abut slavery and in their allegiances, supplying both Union and Confederate forces with troops. However, the state itself remained in the Union. Missouri Compromise was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in the Dred Scott decision of 1857, which ruled that Congress did not have the authority to prohibit slavery in the territories.

1821

MO State- hood

1821 - 1850

Westward movement along the overland trailsSeveral “jumping off” places for the frontier overland trails are found in Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area.

1822

1823

Johnson v. M'Intosh - Supreme Court Decision

Johnson v. M'Intosh - Supreme Court DecisionThis document stated that Indians could occupy lands within the United States, but could not hold title to those lands. This was because their "right of occupancy" was subordinate to the United States' "right to discovery."

1824

1825

President: John Quincy Adams

1826

1827

1827 - 1842

Government Strongholds EstablishedMilitary installations were strategically placed to check the westward expansion of Euro-American settlers, thus "protecting" the Indians who were being resettled in the region and to patrol the commercial trails like the Santa Fe Trail in Freedom's Frontier.

1827

Fort Leavenworth Established

Fort Leavenworth EstablishedFort Leavenworth was established by the U.S. Army. It remains the oldest continuously active army post west of the Mississippi River.

1828

1829

President: Andrew Jackson

1830

Indian Removal Act

Indian Removal ActAfter four months of strong debate, President Andrew Jackson signed the bill into law. Land greed was a big reason for the federal government's position on Indian removal. The desire for Indian lands was also abetted by the Indian hating mentality that was peculiar to some American frontiersman. These Indian lands are today a part of Freedom’s Frontier.

1830

Joseph Smith founds JC of LDS Church

Joseph Smith founds JC of LDS ChurchJoseph Smith founds Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

1831

1830

"Civilizing" the American IndianFor countless Indians, the American thrust for land meant the end of their traditional way of life. Many missions were established in Kansas Territory as manual training schools with an emphasis on assimilation — removing Indian children from their parents and forcing them to learn to live in what was then referred to as the dominant society.

1832

1833

1834

Indian Territory established

1835

1836

1837

President: Martin Van Buren

1838

Trail of Tears

1839

1840

1840 - 1860

Oregon Trail

1841

President: Harrison(William Henry Harrison - Died in office)

1842

President: John Tyler

1842

Fort Scott Established

Fort Scott EstablishedFort Scott established to assist in monitoring the Permanent Indian Frontier.

1843

1844

1845

President: James K. Polk

1846

1847

1848

1849

President: Taylor(Zachary Taylor - Died in office)

1850

President: Millard Fillmore

1850 - 1870

Plains Indians cede landPlains Indians cede land in exchange for reservation

1851

1852

1853

President: Franklin Pierce

1854

Indian Territory becomes part of Kansas

Indian Territory becomes part of KansasUpper half of Indian Territory becomes part of Kansas Territory.

1854

Republican Party formed for abolition of slavery

1854 - 1865

Missouri-Kansas Border WarFor more than six years before the first shots at Fort Sumter were ever fired, a Border War had been in progress between Missouri and Kansas. There erupted a series of violent events--involving anti-slavery and pro-slavery elements. These incidents were attempts to influence whether Kansas would enter the Union as a free or slave state. The debate over slavery influenced political parties and political administrations nationwide and contributed significantly to bringing about the Civil War.

1854

First election in Kansas Territory

First election in Kansas TerritoryGovernor Reeder calls the first election in Kansas Territory; vote to elect delegate to Congress - John W. Whitfield.

May 26, 1854

Adoption of Kansas-Nebraska Act

Adoption of Kansas-Nebraska ActThe Act served to repeal the Missouri Compromise which prohibited slavery north of latitude 36°30´. It organized the two territories and served to open them up for Euro-American/non-Indian settlement. Pro-slavery supporters from Missouri, as well as the South, and anti-slavery partisans from the North and East rushed in to settle in what is today known as Freedom’s Frontier and to affect the outcome of the first Kansas elections. Much conflict ensued.

July 28, 1854

First organized band arrives in Kansas

First organized band arrives in KansasFirst organized band of New Englanders arrives in Kansas and soon founds the city of Lawrence.

October 7, 1854

Andrew Reeder arrives at Ft. Leavenworth

Andrew Reeder arrives at Ft. LeavenworthFirst territorial governor, Andrew Reeder, arrives at Ft. Leavenworth.

November 29, 1854

First election in Kansas Territory

First election in Kansas TerritoryGovernor Reeder calls the first election in Kansas Territory; vote to elect delegate to Congress - John W. Whitfield.

1855

March 30, 1855

Election for members of territorial legislature

July 1, 1855

So-called "Bogus Legislature" meets at Pawnee

August 14, 1855

First convention of free-staters

First convention of free-statersFirst convention of free-states gather in Lawrence and call for election of delegates to free-state constitutional convention.

August 16, 1855

Wilson Shannon replaced Governor Reeder

September 5, 1855

Free-State Party Forms

Free-State Party FormsFree-staters meeting in Big Springs to form Free-State Party

October 23, 1855

Draft "Topeka Constitution"

Draft "Topeka Constitution"Free-state delegates assemble in Topeka to draft "Topeka Constitution" prohibiting slavery in KT; Charles Robinson "elected" governor.

November 21, 1855

Charles Dow killed by Franklin Coleman

Charles Dow killed by Franklin ColemanFree-stater Charles Dow killed by pro-slavery supporter Franklin Coleman; beginning of "Wakarusa War."

1856

May 10, 1856

Free-state "Governor" Robinson arrested

Free-state "Governor" Robinson arrestedFree-state "Governor" Robinson arrested in Lexington, Mo.

May 21, 1856

Sack of Lawrence

Sack of LawrenceSack of Lawrence by Sheriff Jones and pro-slavery forces

May 24, 1856

John Brown's Pottawatomie MassacreJohn Brown's Pottawatomie Massacre in Franklin County.

June 2, 1856

Battle of Black Jack, near Baldwin, Douglas County

June 4, 1856

Battle of Franklin, near LawrenceJune 4-5

August 16, 1856

Battle of Fort Titus, near Lecompton, Douglas Cnty

August 30, 1856

Battle at Osawatomie, Miami County

September 13, 1856

Battle of Hickory Point, north of Osklalooa

1857

President: James Buchanan

1857

Kansas ratifies anti-slavery constitution

January 12, 1857

Democratic Party formed in Kansas

Democratic Party formed in KansasLegislature meets in Lecompton

March 1857

Dred Scott Case…Supreme Court Decision

Dred Scott Case…Supreme Court DecisionThe decision declared that all blacks – enslaved people as well as free -- were not and could never become citizens of the United States. The court also declared the 1820 Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, thus permitting slavery in all of the country's new territories.

September 7, 1857

Lecompton Constitutional Convention opens

October 5, 1857 - October 6, 1857

Free-state victory in election for territory legFree-state victory in the election for territorial legislature.

December 2, 1857

Free-state convention in Lawrence

Free-state convention in LawrenceA free-state convention, presided over by C. Robinson, convened in Lawrence “Over 1,200 Free-State men, headed by Gen. Lane and the Lawrence brass band, march to Lecompton and halt in front of Legislative Hall. Cheer are given for the Topeka Constitution, and groans for the Lecompton swindle…” (December 7, 1857, Annals, 200)

December 21, 1857

Lecompton Constitution is approved

Lecompton Constitution is approvedWith free-staters refusing to participate in election, Lecompton Constitution is approved.

December 23, 1857 - December 24, 1857

Free State Party Convention

Free State Party ConventionFree State Party Convention. Thomas Ewing Jr organizes “bolters” away from Lane radicals control of the convention.

December 7, 1857

Special session of new free-state

Special session of new free-stateSpecial session of new free-state controlled legislature calls for popular vote on Lecompton Constitution.

1858

January 1858

Candle-Box Afffair

Candle-Box AfffairFraud discovered in elections. US Government employees implicated. Lecompton dies as a result.

January 14, 1858

Investigate election fraud

Investigate election fraudLegislature passes law to investigate election fraud in 12/21/1857 and 1/4/1858 elections.

January 4, 1858

Lecompton Constitution rejected in second vote

Lecompton Constitution rejected in second voteLecompton Constitution rejected in second vote in which free-staters participate; final rejection comes on August 2, 1858.

March 3, 1858

Kansas Constitutional Convention

May 18, 1858

Leavenworth Constitution

Leavenworth ConstitutionLeavenworth Constitution approved by Kansas voters; rejected by U.S. Congress

May 19, 1858

Marais des Cygnes Massacre, Linn County

1859

October 4, 1859

Wyandotte Constitution ratified by Kansas voters

November 1859

Free-Staters elected overwhelm state positions

December 2, 1859

John Brown hanged for treason

John Brown hanged for treasonat Charlestown, Va

1860

April 3, 1860 - October 25, 1861

Pony Express BeginsFirst Pony Express rider leaves St. Joseph carrying mail that would be delivered in California ten days later.

February 12, 1860

Kansas admission billKansas admission bill introduced in U.S. House of Representatives.

1861

President: Abraham Lincoln(Died in office.)

January 29, 1861

Kansas Statehood

Kansas StatehoodWith conflict continuing along the Kansas-Missouri border and Southern states starting to secede from the Union, the U.S. Congress admitted Kansas as a “free state”, its founding constitution written and approved in the territory over a year before.

March 26, 1861

First state legislature convenes in Topeka

April 12, 1861

Civil War officially declared

Civil War officially declaredContinuously escalating strife on the Missouri-Kansas Border and between North and South was declared a true civil war on April 12, 1861, when Confederate artillery opened fire on Fort Sumter, a federal fort off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina.

April 18, 1861

Jim Lane’s Frontier Guard Protects the White House

April 20, 1861

Missouri State troops seize Liberty ArsenalMissouri State troops seize Liberty, Missouri Arsenal, largest one west of St. Louis. A body of armed men from Clay County took control of the Liberty arsenal resulting in a few cannon and some 1500 arms being distributed to Southern men of surrounding counties.

April 29, 1861

Capt. Lyon takes control of St. Louis Arsenal

May 10, 1861

Camp Jackson Affair

May 25, 1861

Captain Constanin Blandowsky dies

Captain Constanin Blandowsky diesCaptain Constanin Blandowsky, wounded at Camp Jackson, dies of wounds. 1st Federal Officer killed in the line of duty.

June 11, 1861

Capt Lyon & Gov Claiborne Jackson meet

Capt Lyon & Gov Claiborne Jackson meetCapt.Lyon & Governor Claiborne Jackson meet at Planter’s House in St. Louis. Talks break down.

June 13, 1861

Government Evacuates Jefferson City

Government Evacuates Jefferson CityPro-Confederate Government Evacuates Jefferson City, MO.

June 17, 1861

Battle of Boonville (Boonville Races)

June 18, 1861

Major R. T. Van Horn met oppositionMajor R. T. Van Horn met opposition from the citizens of Harrisonville. At 2:00 in the afternoon his men were surrounded by approximately 300-400 horsemen. Rather than make a stand they retreated to Camp Price southwest of Harrisonville.

August 10, 1861

Battle of Wilson's Creek

Battle of Wilson's CreekBattle of Wilson's Creek near Springfield, Mo.; troops of the First and Second Kansas engaged.

August 28, 1861

Skirmish in Lexington

Skirmish in LexingtonThere was a skirmish in Lexington between the local State Guard and Home Guard.

August 5, 1861

Battle of Athens in Northeast Missouri

September 11, 1861 - September 20, 1861

Skirmish and Battle of Lexington

September 13, 1861

Begins 7 day battle/siege of Lexington, MO.

September 17, 1861

Colonel John Scott headed toward Liberty

Colonel John Scott headed toward LibertyUnion troops under the command of Colonel John Scott headed toward Liberty engaging the Southerners at Blue Mills Landing. Losing all but one of their cannon the Federal troops retreated, losing four men and twenty wounded.

September 23, 1861

The Sack & Burning of Osceola, MO

The Sack & Burning of Osceola, MOThe Sack & Burning of Osceola, MO by Jim Lane’s troops

November 21, 1861

Battle of Carthage, MO (Dry Fork)

1862

May 2, 1862

General James Blunt takes command

General James Blunt takes commandGeneral James Blunt takes command of Department of Kansas; First Indian regiment organized.

May 7, 1862 - May 8, 1862

Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas

July 1, 1862

Pacific Railway ActPassed by Congress in 1862 (12 Stat. 489), authorized the construction of the first transcontinental railway line connecting the east and west coasts furthering opening settlement in what is now Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area.

August 14, 1862

George Caleb Bingham Home CollapsesThe George Caleb Bingham Home built just 5 years prior to this date serves as a Union Prison and collapses killing several Confederate women.

August 17, 1862

General Thomas Ewing Jr. issues Order No. 10

General Thomas Ewing Jr. issues Order No. 10General Thomas Ewing Jr. issues Order No. 10 – directing disloyal people be removed from the border counties.

September 7, 1862

William C. Quantrill raids Olathe

William C. Quantrill raids OlatheWilliam C. Quantrill raids Olathe; several men killed and newspaper offices destroyed.

October 17, 1862

First Kansas Colored Regiment OrganizedFirst Kansas Colored Regiment organized, Bourbon County

October 22, 1862

Battle of Old Fort Wayne

Battle of Old Fort WayneBattle of Old Fort Wayne , Cherokee Nation (Beattie’s Prairie, near Maysville, AR). Some of Jim Lane’s Kansas Troops participate.

October 29, 1862

Skirmish at Island Mound

Skirmish at Island Mound1st Kansas Colored Infantry in first action by any African-American Troops.

November 28, 1862

Battle of Cane Hill, Arkansas

Battle of Cane Hill, ArkansasJim Lane’s Kansas Troops participate.

November 4, 1862

Thomas Carney elected governor of Kansas

December 2, 1862

Battle of Prairie Grove, ArkansasKansas troops participate in the slug-fest.

December 7, 1862

General Blunt has big victory at Prairie Grove

1863

January 1, 1863

Homestead Act takes effectFrom the inception of the United States there was a clamor for ever-increasing liberalism in the disposition of land. This became a demand of the Free-Soil party, which saw such distribution as a means of stopping the spread of slavery into the territories. The Southern states’ secession cleared the way for its adoption allowing anyone to file for a quarter-section of free land (160 acres) with specified requirements.

January 1, 1863

Emancipation Proclamation Enacted

Emancipation Proclamation EnactedIssued by President Lincoln, the proclamation declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy.

June 1863

General Thomas Ewing Jr takes command

General Thomas Ewing Jr takes commandGeneral Thomas Ewing Jr takes command of the Mo-Kansas Border

July 1, 1863 - July 4, 1863

Union prevails at Gettysburg and Vicksburg

Union prevails at Gettysburg and VicksburgKansas troops involved in latter campaign.

August 21, 1863

Quantrill's raid on Lawrence

August 23, 1863

3 ½ counties in western Missouri evacuated

3 ½ counties in western Missouri evacuatedGeneral Thomas Ewing, Jr. issues Order No. 11 – 3 ½ counties in western Missouri evacuated.

October 1863

General Jo Shelby raids

General Jo Shelby raidsGeneral Jo Shelby raids into Missouri up to Marshall. Kansas troops used in pursuit.

October 18, 1863

2nd Battle of Carthage

2nd Battle of CarthageGeneral Ewing captures Shelby’s rear guard

October 6, 1863

Quantrill slaughters Blunt's federals

Quantrill slaughters Blunt's federalsQuantrill slaughters Blunt's federals near Baxter Springs; also attacks Fort Blair.

November 1863

General Order No 20

General Order No 20General Order No 20 issued by Ewing partially rescinds Order No. 11

November 25, 1863

Battle of Chattanooga

Battle of ChattanoogaJohn A. Martin's Eighth Kansas instrumental at Mission Ridge and Orchard Knob.

1864

January 1, 1864

Curtis takes command of Department of Kansas

Curtis takes command of Department of KansasGeneral Samuel Curtis takes command of Department of Kansas.

September 19, 1864

Price enters Missouri

Price enters MissouriConfederate General Sterling Price enters Missouri leading approx. 15,000 troops.

September 19, 1864

Doniphan burned by Union troops

September 26, 1864

Battle of Ironton, MO

Battle of Ironton, MOBattle of Ironton, MO – Price against 1,000 Union troops.

September 27, 1864

Centralia Massacres by Bloody Bill Anderson

September 27, 1864

Battle of Pilot Knob, MO.

Battle of Pilot Knob, MO.General Ewing decimates 1/15th of Price’s Army

September 28, 1864

Ewing & command escape Pilot Knob

Ewing & command escape Pilot KnobEwing & command escape Pilot Knob and lead Price on chase through Ozark hills for 4 days thus giving St. Louis time to fortify. Battles of the Huzzah, Red Haw, and Leasburg fought during retreat.

September 28, 1864

Ewing & command escape Pilot Knob

September 8, 1864

Republican State Convention in Kansas

October 13, 1864

Battle of Glasgow, MO

October 17, 1864

Capture of Sedalia, MO by Shelby’s troops

October 19, 1864

Battle of Lexington

Battle of LexingtonBattle of Lexington (Salt Pond Rd). Beginning of days of battle culminating at Mine Creek.

October 21, 1864

Fighting at Independence and at Little Blue

October 23, 1864

Battle of Westport

Battle of WestportBattle of Westport, Price forced south down the Kansas border

October 25, 1864

Battle of Mine Creek, Linn County

October 28, 1864

2nd Battle of Newtonia

October 6, 1864

Battle of the Osage (Prince’s Ford)

October 8, 1864

Governor Carney calls out state militia

Governor Carney calls out state militiaGovernor Carney calls out state militia to meet threat from Gen. Sterling Price

November 8, 1864

Samuel Crawford elected governor

Samuel Crawford elected governorGeneral election held; Samuel Crawford elected governor

December 11, 1864

Railroad reaches Lawrence

1865

President: Andrew Johnson

January 11, 1865

Manumission Proclamation freeing Missouri’s slaves

Manumission Proclamation freeing Missouri’s slavesGovernor Thomas Fletcher signs Manumission Proclamation freeing Missouri’s slaves.

April 14, 1865

President Lincoln assassinatedPresident Lincoln assassinated by John Wilkes Booth

April 9, 1865

The Civil War “officially” ends

The Civil War “officially” endsGeneral Robert E. Lee surrenders to General U.S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, effectively ending the military’s role in the Civil War but not the feelings that initiated it in the first place. Issues along the Missouri-Kansas border continue.

August 5, 1865

1866

1865 - 1877

Reconstruction in old South

1867

1868

1869

President: Ulysses S. Grant

1870

1871

1872

1873

1874

1875

1876

1877

President: Rutherford B. Hayes

1878

1879

1879 - 1880

Exodusters MovementThousands of African Americans, many of them formerly enslaved, move north and west to Kansas for more freedom and greater opportunities.

1880

1881

President: Garfield(James A. Garfield)

1882

President: Chester Alan Arthur

1883

1884

1885

President: Grover Cleveland

1886

1887

Dawes Severality Act creates allotment system

1888

1889

President: Benjamin Harrison

1890

1891

1892

1893

President: Grover Cleveland

1894

1895

1896

Supreme Court rules "separate but equal" legal

1897

President: William McKinley

1898

1899

1900

1901

President: Theodore Roosevelt

1902

1903

1904

1905

1906

1907

1908

1909

President: William H. Taft

1909

NAACP in NYC

1910

1911

1912

1913

President: Woodrow Wilson

1914

1915

1916

1917

Blacks migrate north and west

1918

1919

1920

19th Amendment gives women right to vote

1921

President: Warren G. Harding

1922

1923

President: Calvin Coolidge

1924

1925

1926

1927

1928

1929

President: Herbert Hoover

1930

1931

1932

1933

President: Franklin D. Roosevelt

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

President: Harry S. Truman

April 12, 1945

Harry S. Truman assumes Presidency of US

Harry S. Truman assumes Presidency of USHarry S. Truman from Independence, MO, assumes Presidency of US. Building on the hard work and effort of the NAACP as well as other groups and individuals over decades, Truman energizes the modern civil rights movement by desegregating the U.S. Armed Forces.

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

President: Dwight D. Eisenhower

1954

January 17, 1954

Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas

Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, KansasSupreme Court decision on the landmark case unanimously agreeing that segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.

1955

Blacks boycott buses in Montgomery

1955

Supreme Court orders school desegregation

1956

1957

1958

1959

1960

1960 - 1965

Civil Rights Movement

1961

President: John F. Kennedy

1962

1963

President: Lyndon B. Johnson

1964

June 15, 1964

Civil Rights Act passed by Congress

Civil Rights Act passed by CongressPrecipitated by the Brown v Board of Education ruling, it took several more years before the United States finally passed this act to enforce the rights for its citizens of color.

1965

August 5, 1965

Voting Rights Act passed by CongressConcerted but unsuccessful efforts to break the grip of state’s rights had been under way for some time. The unprovoked attack on March 7, 1965, by state troopers on peaceful marchers crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, en route to the state capitol in Montgomery, persuaded the President and Congress to overcome Southern legislators' resistance to effective voting rights legislation. President Johnson issued a call for a strong voting rights law and hearings began soon thereafter on the bill that would become the Voting Rights Act. These events continue the struggle for freedom for which Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area is founded.

1966

1967

1968

1969

President: Richard M. Nixon

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

President: Gerald Ford

1975

1976

1977

President: Jimmy Carter

1978

1979

1980

1981

President: Ronald Reagan

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

President: George H. W. Bush

1990

1991

1992

1993

President: Bill Clinton

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

President: George W. Bush

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

October 12, 2006

FFNHA Enabling Legislation

FFNHA Enabling LegislationThis legislation further establishes an effort to connect the significant stories and events that forever changed our nation’s geography and ideals. From the early period of westward expansion through the quest for Kansas’ statehood, into the Border War and Civil War, it fanned events in this area forcing individuals to examine their definitions of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The collision of these concepts of freedom incited and fueled a bloody struggle whose impact echoes through the decades into the present.

2007

2008

2009

President: Barack Obama

2010

2011

2012

2013

Historic Timeline