=The Task Confronting the Kansas of To-day.= All over the United States there is a growing tendency on the part of the people to exercise a more direct control of their government; to take more and more authority into their own hands. This means that the people must be interested, active and well-informed. For us, it means that the quality of Kansas government depends upon the quality of Kansas citizenship. While the task of the pioneers was a heavy one, ours to-day is no less great, though it is different. Their struggle was to get the soil under cultivation, ours to see that it does not become worn out; theirs to get public utilities, ours to use and regulate them; theirs to develop new industries, ours to see that they are carried on with justice to all; theirs to establish schools, ours to make them more efficient; in general, theirs to build up, ours to use wisely. Kansas history is not made; it is in the making. We study the past that we may learn how to make the present better. Great things have been accomplished but there is much yet to be done. The pioneers solved their problems, and if we are worthy of the Kansas they have given us we will strive to solve ours. We will keep alive the Kansas spirit. SUMMARY The Kansas people have developed the same pioneer qualities as have the people of other states; but, in addition, their peculiar Territorial history has made them believe in a marked degree in liberty, justice, equality, and democracy. These characteristics have given rise to what is called “the Kansas spirit.” This spirit is especially evident in the political movements through which the people have taken more and more of the control of government into their own hands. REFERENCES Kansas, Carl Becker. Historical Collections. Selected Topics. Connelley, History as an Asset of the State. QUESTIONS 1. In what things is Kansas great? Name other states that are greater in any of these things. What quality distinguishes Kansas? 2. How can the lesson in the story of “The Great Stone Face” be applied to Kansas? 3. Why does pioneer life develop courage? Independence? Resourcefulness? 4. What effect has the Territorial history of Kansas had on the people? 5. What is meant by the Kansas spirit? What are some of the ways in which it has been shown? Discuss each. 6. Discuss the responsibilities of the Kansas people of to-day. THE APPENDIX TERRITORIAL PERIOD Legislatures There were six Territorial legislatures. The first two were proslavery. Beginning in 1858 the four that followed were free-state. Constitutions