English Bill (1858) facts for kids
The English Bill was an important offer made to the Kansas Territory in 1858. The United States Congress created this bill. It offered Kansas millions of acres of public land (land owned by the government). This land offer was made if Kansas agreed to accept a set of rules called the Lecompton Constitution.
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What Was the English Bill?
The English Bill was written on April 23, 1858. It was a proposal from the United States Congress to the people of Kansas Territory. The bill offered Kansas a large amount of land. This land was offered in exchange for Kansas agreeing to the Lecompton Constitution.
Who Was William Hayden English?
The English Bill was named after William Hayden English (1822–1896). He was a Democratic representative in Congress. He served in Congress from 1853 to 1861. He introduced this bill to Congress.
Why Was This Bill Important?
The bill was not a trick or a bribe in the usual way people think of it. The original plan, called the Lecompton Ordinance, asked for 23,500,000 acres of land. The English Bill reduced this to 3,500,000 acres. This was a normal amount of land given to new states. However, Kansas would only get this land if they accepted the Lecompton Constitution. Congress did not promise any land if the Constitution was not adopted.
What Was the Lecompton Constitution?
The Lecompton Constitution was a proposed set of rules for Kansas. It was meant to decide if Kansas would become a state. A big debate at the time was about whether new states would allow slavery. The Lecompton Constitution was controversial because it supported slavery in Kansas.
The Land Offer Explained
The English Bill offered Kansas 3,500,000 acres of land. This was a significant amount of land. It was meant to encourage Kansans to accept the Lecompton Constitution. The bill made it clear that the land would only be given if the Constitution was approved.
What Happened Next?
The people of Kansas had a chance to vote on the offer. On August 21, 1858, Kansans rejected the English Bill. The vote was 11,812 people against the offer and 1,926 people for it. This showed that most Kansans did not want to accept the Lecompton Constitution.
