Difference between revisions of "Kansas"
MountainDew (Talk | contribs) (At least the source I cited says that the Kansas-Nebraska Act caused Bleeding Kansas, didn't quiet it. I don't see a reason to change it, but feel free to discuss it on the talk page) |
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==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | Kansas was admitted as a [[free state]] in the midst of [[Bleeding Kansas|guerilla warfare]] between pro-slavery and abolitionist forces that erupted in the wake of the passage of the [[Kansas-Nebraska Act]] of 1854. <ref>http://www.legendsofamerica.com/OZ-BleedingKansas.html</ref> This act provided for an election to determine whether Kansas would be a free state or a slave state, and many people flooded into the state to vote. The vote process was not easy, and was rife with accusations of voter fraud. <ref>http://www.historyplace.com/lincoln/kansas.htm</ref> Noted abolitionist [[John Brown]] led anti-slavery forces during some of this time period. This violence continued after Kansas was admitted to the union, and the worst example was the destruction of the city of Lawrence by pro-slavery guerilla [[William Quantrill]] on August 21, 1863, which killed most of the male population of the town. <ref>http://www.legendsofamerica.com/OZ-Lawrence2.html</ref> | + | Kansas was admitted as a [[free state]] in the midst of [[Bleeding Kansas|guerilla warfare]] between pro-slavery and abolitionist forces that erupted in the wake of the passage of the [[Kansas-Nebraska Act]] of 1854. <ref>http://www.legendsofamerica.com/OZ-BleedingKansas.html</ref> This act provided for an election to determine whether Kansas would be a free state or a slave state, and many people flooded into the state to vote. The vote process was not easy, and was rife with accusations of voter fraud. <ref>http://www.historyplace.com/lincoln/kansas.htm</ref> Noted abolitionist [[John Brown]] led anti-slavery forces during some of this time period. This violence continued after Kansas was admitted to the union, and the worst example was the destruction of the city of [[Lawrence]] by pro-slavery guerilla [[William Quantrill]] on August 21, 1863, which killed most of the male population of the town. <ref>http://www.legendsofamerica.com/OZ-Lawrence2.html</ref> |
==Politics== | ==Politics== | ||
Revision as of 09:17, April 15, 2007
Kansas is a Midwestern state which became the 34th state admitted to the Union on January 29, 1861. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest cities are, in order, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City. The name Kansas comes from a Sioux word meaning "people of the south wind".
History
Kansas was admitted as a free state in the midst of guerilla warfare between pro-slavery and abolitionist forces that erupted in the wake of the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. [1] This act provided for an election to determine whether Kansas would be a free state or a slave state, and many people flooded into the state to vote. The vote process was not easy, and was rife with accusations of voter fraud. [2] Noted abolitionist John Brown led anti-slavery forces during some of this time period. This violence continued after Kansas was admitted to the union, and the worst example was the destruction of the city of Lawrence by pro-slavery guerilla William Quantrill on August 21, 1863, which killed most of the male population of the town. [3]
Politics
Kansas is perhaps one of the most consistent examples of a red state, having voted for the Republican candidate in every presidential election since 1964. 71% of voters supported a ban on gay marriage in 2005 [4], and both of its senators (Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback are Republicans), and there is a general sense that the Republican primaries are more important than general elections on a state level. However, this may be changing. Kathleen Sebelius, the widely popular governor, is a Democrat and in her second term. In the 2006 attorney general race, Democrat Paul Morrison defeated incumbent Phill Kline, who had strenuously pushed a conservative agenda, most notably his relentless, yet ultimately futile, legal pursuit of abortion provider George Tiller. The publicity from these activities has been credited with his defeat. Former Rep. Jim Ryun's surprise loss to Nancy Boyda in 2006 has created a situation in which two out of the four U.S. Representatives (Boyda and Dennis Moore, who represents the affluent suburban area near Kansas City) are Democrats. (The two Republicans are Todd Tiahrt and Jerry Moran).
Miscellaneous
Kansas exports more wheat than any other state. Kansas's economy is heavily dependent upon agriculture. [5]
Kansas's motto is ad astra per aspera, which is Latin for "to the stars through difficulties." Its state flower is the sunflower, its state tree is the cottonwood, and its state bird is the Western meadowlark.
Helium was first found in natural gas at the University of Kansas in Lawrence in 1905. [6]
The term "What would Jesus do?" was first used by Charles Sheldon, a Topeka minister, in 1896. [7]
Cawker City is home to the world's largest ball of twine, which has a 40 foot circumference[8], and Greensburg is home to the world's deepst hand dug well, which is 109 feet deep. [9].
Although Dorothy Gale, in the 1900 book and 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, is from Kansas, L. Frank Baum, the author of the Oz books, had never been to Kansas, and based his description of a state where 'everything was grey' on his experiences as a newspaper man in North Dakota.
The default position for the mapping program Google Earth is Lawrence. [10]
Notable Kansans
Sam Brownback, current US Senator and 2008 Presidential candidate, was born in Parker, attended Kansas State University, and currently represents Kansas in the Senate.
Bob Dole, former US Senator and the 1996 Republican nominee for President, grew up in Russell.
Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, was from Abilene.
Dwight Eisenhower, president of the United States from 1952 to 1960, grew up in Abilene.
Thomas Frank, an author who is most well known for his book What's the Matter with Kansas?, a look at the political history of Kansas written from a liberal perspective.
James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, was a professor and coach at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.
Gordon Parks, an award-winning African-American photographer and writer, was from Fort Scott.
Jim Ryun, a three time Olympic gold medalist who held the world record in the mile run and served several terms in the House of Representatives, is originally from Wichita but now lives in Lawrence.
William Allen White, a journalist who is most well known for his bitter piece of conservative satire, What's the Matter With Kansas?, lived in Emporia. (Note: The title of the aforementioned Frank book is a reference to the article by White, which precedes Frank's book by over 100 years.)
The 1970s progressive rock band Kansas, known for the songs Carry On My Wayward Son and Dust in the Wind takes its name from the state.
References
- ↑ http://www.legendsofamerica.com/OZ-BleedingKansas.html
- ↑ http://www.historyplace.com/lincoln/kansas.htm
- ↑ http://www.legendsofamerica.com/OZ-Lawrence2.html
- ↑ http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/05/national/main685831.shtml
- ↑ http://www.fas.usda.gov/info/factsheets/CAFTA/ks.html
- ↑ http://www.news.ku.edu/2000/00N/AprNews/Apr7/bailey.html
- ↑ http://www.mastersimage.com/articles/ihs.htm
- ↑ http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Cawker/twine.html
- ↑ http://www.bigwell.org/bigwell.html
- ↑ http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/dec/21/lawrence_pinpointed_center_google_earth/
