=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.
4. To which of these does the Price campaign belong?
5. Who was General Price? Give an account of his threatened
invasion of Kansas.
6. Who was Quantrill? Give an account of his raid on Lawrence.
7. How long did the Civil War last?
8. How long had it been since Kansas was opened for settlement?
What progress had been made?
9. What was the population of Kansas in 1865?
CHAPTER XIV
KANSAS SINCE THE CIVIL WAR
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