The Counties of Kansas at the Close of the Civil War.
End of the Civil War, 1865. In April, 1865, the great war came to a close, after lasting almost exactly four years. The questions of slavery and disunion were finally settled. The whole nation was thankful to lay down its arms and go back home, “to drop the sword and grasp the plow,” but this was especially true of Kansas, where the people had been doing battle over the slavery question for eleven years. The Territorial period and the Civil War period made one continuous conflict. With the heavy drain on resources and population, it was not to be expected that Kansas would make much growth or progress during the Civil War. Development could little more than equal waste and loss. The population of Kansas numbered about 100,000 at the beginning of the war, and about 136,000 at the close. There had been little improvement in the manner of living during the four years.
SUMMARY
The Civil War began within three months after Kansas became a state. Although Kansas had had no opportunity to recover from the Territorial struggle, it took an active part in the war. General Price threatened to invade Kansas with a large Confederate force, but did not succeed. The Indians committed depredations on the western frontier. The worst feature of the war was the border trouble, of which the Quantrill raid was the climax. During the four years of the Civil War Kansas did not make a large gain in population or in progress.
REFERENCES
- Andreas, History of Kansas, pp. 179-215.
- Blackmar, Life of Robinson.
- Crawford, Kansas in the Sixties.
- Cordley, History of Lawrence.
- Connelley, Quantrill and the Border Wars.
- Historical Collections, vol. VIII, pp. 271, 352; vol. IX, pp. 430, 455; vol. XI, p. 217; vol. V, p. 116; vol. VI, pp. 305, 317.
- Prentis, History of Kansas, pp. 143-168.
- Spring, Kansas, chap. XIII.
QUESTIONS
1. When did the Civil War begin? How long was this after Kansas had become a state?
2. What part did Kansas take in the war? Explain.
3. What were the three classes of danger to which Kansas was exposed? Discuss each.