Law and Order Party (Kansas) facts for kids
The Law and Order Party was a political group formed on October 3, 1855, in Leavenworth, Kansas. This happened during a tough time called Bleeding Kansas, when there was a lot of fighting and disagreement about whether slavery should be allowed in the Kansas Territory. This party supported the idea that people could own other people as slaves.
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What Was the Law and Order Party?
The Law and Order Party was a political party active in Kansas during the mid-1850s. At this time, Kansas was a territory, not yet a state. People were arguing fiercely about whether Kansas would become a "free state" (where slavery was not allowed) or a "slave state" (where it was allowed). The Law and Order Party strongly believed that slavery should be allowed in Kansas.
Who Started This Party?
Two important people who helped start the Law and Order Party were David Rice Atchison and Joseph C. Anderson. They were leaders who wanted Kansas to become a slave state. They gathered others who shared their views to form this political group.
What Was the "Bogus Legislature"?
The "Bogus Legislature" was a nickname given to the first official territorial legislature of Kansas. Many people thought this legislature was not fair because its members were elected through cheating and illegal votes. Most of the people elected to this legislature supported slavery.
Key Members of the Party
Eleven members of this "Bogus Legislature" were part of the Law and Order Party. They worked together to pass laws that would support slavery in Kansas. These members included:
- W.G. Mathias
- Richard R. Rees
- D.A.N. Grover
- Andrew McDonald
- William Barbee
- W.P. Richardson
- John H. Stringfellow
- Lucien Eastin
- S.A. Williams
- Archibald Payne
- Joseph C. Anderson
These individuals played a role in the early, challenging history of Kansas as it struggled with the issue of slavery.
