Ballot or the Bullet: First Shots of Bleeding Kansas

On May 21, 1856, pro-slavery militias crossed the Kansas-Missouri border and entered the frontier city of Lawrence and unceremoniously sacked it. From the smallest farmer’s abode to the legislature itself, none were spared from the wrath of the so-called Border Ruffians. In a time of crisis, strong leadership is the first of all necessities. Will you allow the Ruffians and Governor Wilson Shannon to continue their domination of the territory? Will you yourselves descend into the same indiscriminate violence they’ve seen fit to inflict? How will you work to stem Bleeding Kansas?

Writer: Tristan Rodriguez (contact at tristan977@icloud.com)

Chairs: Tristan Rodriguez and Max Palmer