Topeka Constitution facts for kids
The Topeka Constitutional Convention was a big meeting held in Topeka, Kansas Territory from October 23 to November 11, 1855. People at this meeting wrote a special document called the Topeka Constitution. This document was designed to make slavery illegal in Kansas. The convention was organized by people known as Free-Staters. They wanted to oppose the group that supported slavery, who had been elected to the local government on March 5, 1855. That election had many problems, including cheating and scaring people who wanted Kansas to be free.
The Topeka Constitution was the first attempt to set up a government for Kansas and write down its rules. People who supported a "free" Kansas voted for this constitution on December 15, 1855. After it passed, the constitution was sent to Washington. The people hoped the U.S. Congress would approve it. However, President Pierce did not like the document.
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What Was the Topeka Constitution?
The Topeka Constitution was a plan for how Kansas would be governed. It was created by people who believed that Kansas should be a "free state." This meant they wanted to stop slavery from spreading into the territory. They wrote down rules for a new government that would ban slavery completely.
Why Was the Convention Held?
The convention happened because of a big disagreement over slavery. The U.S. government had passed a law called the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This law said that people in new territories like Kansas could decide for themselves if they wanted slavery or not. This idea was called "popular sovereignty."
Many people moved to Kansas, some supporting slavery and some against it. The first election for the Kansas government had a lot of problems. People from a nearby state who supported slavery came into Kansas just to vote, which was cheating. They also tried to scare people who wanted Kansas to be free. Because of this, the government that was elected strongly supported slavery. The Free-Staters held their own convention to create a different plan for Kansas.
What Happened in Washington?
When the Topeka Constitution reached Washington, D.C., it caused a lot of debate. Senator Lewis Cass from Michigan presented it in the Senate. In the House of Representatives, Daniel from Indiana presented it. The House of Representatives actually passed the constitution by a very close vote on July 2.
However, the Senate did not pass it. It was kept in a special committee and never voted on. On July 8, Senator Stephen A. Douglas brought up the Topeka Constitution again. He suggested that the people of Kansas should decide the issue themselves, following the rules of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This meant the constitution was not approved by the U.S. Congress.
Related Events in Kansas History
More Information
- Cutler, William G. (1883). "History of the State of Kansas".
