Wakarusa War facts for kids

The Wakarusa War was a small conflict that happened in Kansas Territory. It took place from November 21 to December 8, 1855. This event was part of the larger period of violence known as Bleeding Kansas. Most of the fighting happened near Lawrence and in the Wakarusa River Valley.

How the Trouble Began

The events that led to the Wakarusa War started on November 21, 1855. A man named Charles Dow, who supported Kansas becoming a free state (a "Free-Stater"), was killed. He was shot by Franklin N. Coleman, a settler who supported slavery. They had been arguing over land at a place called Hickory Point, south of Lawrence.

A few hours after Dow was killed, the landowner, Jacob Branson, found Dow’s body. People who were against slavery (called abolitionists) then burned down some cabins belonging to settlers who supported slavery.

When Samuel Jones, the Sheriff of Douglas County (who supported slavery), heard about what happened, he gathered a group of armed citizens (a "posse"). He went to Hickory Point to try and bring order. However, Sheriff Jones did not arrest Coleman. Instead, he arrested Jacob Branson, the landowner and a leader of the abolitionists.

While Branson was being taken to jail, a group of abolitionists stopped the posse and freed Branson. After this, Sheriff Jones gathered about 1,500 men from Missouri. These men were known as "Border Ruffians" and they strongly supported slavery. Jones called the freeing of Branson an "insurrection" (a rebellion). The Missourians set up camp along the Wakarusa River and planned to attack Lawrence.

Facing Off in Lawrence

Before they came to Lawrence, the pro-slavery forces had broken into a United States military storage building (an "arsenal") in Liberty, Missouri. They stole guns, swords, a cannon, and ammunition.

In Lawrence, John Brown and James Lane had gathered Free-State settlers to defend the town. They built barricades (blockades) to protect Lawrence.

This was the first time that armed groups from Missouri and Kansas faced each other in such a large way. The pro-slavery forces demanded that the Free-Staters obey the laws and give up their weapons. But the Free-Staters replied that they had not broken any laws. They also said they had the right to carry weapons, as protected by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.

No major attack on Lawrence happened. The only person who died during this standoff was a Free-State man named Thomas Barber. On December 6, 1855, he was shot and killed by George W. Clark, an Indian agent, on a road outside of Lawrence.

Images for kids

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  After being arrested by Sheriff Samuel J. Jones, Jacob Branson was rescued by Free-Staters, led by Samuel Newitt Wood (pictured).