Document 1 - Map of Kansas
Document 2 - Missouri Border Ruffians
Document 3 - Political Cartoon 1
Document 4 - Political Cartoon 2
Document 5 - John Brown Jr. Letter to Fredrick Douglass' Paper - May 2, 1856
The blood of its freedom-loving inhabitants may alone give to this land superior fertility; yet the spirit of improvement, of energy, self-reliance, and true Republicanism will here take such a form that in all that makes a people truly great, Kansas will stand if admitted into the Union among the foremost in the Confederacy. As a country, then, in which to invest capital, it has few equals. Free labor and free institutions in prospect are at this moment attracting hundreds here, in spite of the "wars and rumors of wars" which constantly annoy us.
Lawrence was yesterday full of new arrivals of Eastern and Northern emigrants, men with their families, and young men, some from Ohio, and Massachusetts, others from Vermont and the Granite hills of New Hampshire, all well dressed, intelligent, and full of earnest purpose to secure to Freedom this land of their adoption. They not only bring with them the capital of health, of body and mind, but skilled hands to labor, mechanical and agricultural implements of superior kinds, not omitting Sharp's Rifles, nicely packed in their trunks. On Friday last forty settlers passed through Osawatomie and Meridezine rivers: these were principally from Iowa, all but three of their number were Free State men. To-day I have met a characteristic emigrant train; a fine prairie plow projected from the rear of one of the wagons, and five Sharp's Rifles hung up in the fore part, indicating that where these men stop, the land may require to be cleared before it is ready for the plow. Blessings on those who come with these messengers of peace, and blessings upon those who have so generously contributed to supply the destitute with such gospel. A man with one of those weapons receives through it that magnetism which once circulated in the vicinity of Bunker Hill. These are the media through which we seek communication with the spirits of 1775-76; placed "in rapport" with them the weakest nerves are strung to manly tension, the feeblest knees are strengthened, and the fearful heart beats strong again. |
Questions:
What is the purpose of this letter? What side is the author on, for or against slavery? What is the significance of Kansas according to the author? Why are all the Eastern and Northern men moving to Kansas? What does the sharp’s Rifle represent? What is he referring to by “clearing the land?”
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Document 6 - Affidavit of John Doyle
On Saturday night, about 11 o'clock, on the 24th day of May last, a party of men came to our house; we had all retired; they roused us up, and told us that if we would surrender they would not hurt us. They said they were from the army; they were armed with pistols and knives; they took off my father and two of my brothers, William and Drury. We were all alarmed. They made inquiries about Mr. Wilkson, and about our horses. The next morning was Sunday, the 25th of May, 1856. I went in search of my father and two brothers. I found my father and one brother, William, lying dead in the road, about two hundred yards from the house; I saw my other brother lying dead on the ground, about one hundred and fifty yards from the house, in the grass, near a ravine; his fingers were cut off; and his arms were cut off; his head was cut open; there was a hole in his breast. William's head was cut open, and a hole was in his jaw, as though it was made by a knife, and a hole was also in his side. My father was shot in the forehead and stabbed in the breast. I have talked often with northern men and eastern men in the Territory, and these men talked exactly like eastern men and northern men talk, that is, their language and pronunciation were similar to those eastern and northern men with whom I had talked. An old man commanded the party; he was a dark complected, and his face was slim. We had lighted a candle, and about eight of them entered the house; there were some more outside. The complexion of most of those eight whom I saw in the house were of sandy complexion. My father and brothers were pro-slavery men, and belonged to the law and order party.
JOHN DOYLE |
Questions:
What is going on in this passage? Who is the speaker? Why were his family members killed? How trustworthy is this source?
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Document 7 - Affidavit of Mahala Doyle
We were all in bed, when we heard some persons come into the yard and rap at the door and call for Mr. Doyle, my husband. This was about 11 o'clock on Saturday night of the 24th of May last. My husband got up and went to the door. Those outside inquired for Mr. Wilkson [sic], and where he lived. My husband told them that he would tell them. Mr. Doyle, my husband, opened the door, and several came into the house, and said that they were from the army. My husband was a pro-slavery man. They told my husband that he and the boys must surrender, they were their prisoners. These men were armed with pistols and large knives. They first took my husband out of the house, then they took two of my sons—the two oldest ones, William and Drury—out, and then took my husband and these two boys, William and Drury, away. My son John was spared, because I asked them in tears to spare him. In a short time afterwards I heard the report of pistols. I heard two reports, after which I heard moaning, as if a person was dying; then I heard a wild whoop. They had asked before they went away for our horses. We told them that the horses were out on the prairie. My husband and two boys; my sons, did not come back any more. I went out next morning in search of them, and found my husband and William, my son, lying dead in the road near together, about two hundred yards from the house. My other son I did not see any more until the day he was buried.
MAHALA DOYLE. |
Questions:
What is going on in this passage? Who is the speaker? Why were her family members killed? How trustworthy is this source? What does this act represent? What role does violence have in history? Can it ever be a force for good? |
Document 8 - Images of John Brown
Above: Tragic Prelude 1938-40. Painting of John Brown. Artist John Steuart Curry
Left: Photograph of John Brown Questions: What are some differences between these two images of John Brown? Why would the artist choose to depict Brown in this way? How do our perceptions of events change over time? How does this relate to the recent twitter hash tag: “#IftheyGunnedMeDown Which pic the news gonna show?” |
Document 9 - Pottawatomie Creek Historical Marker
The DBQs are available to be downloaded here as a .zip or as a .doc:
dbq_docs.zip | |
File Size: | 6815 kb |
File Type: | zip |
kansas_dbqs.docx | |
File Size: | 7016 kb |
File Type: | docx |