SERIES: Pictorial History of the United States and Territories
SCENES: John Brown's Cabin at Ossawatomie; The Border Ruffians invading Kansas in 1855; Sacking of Lawrence in 1863
SIZE: 5" x 3"
DATE: 1892
LITHOGRAPHER: Donaldson Brothers, N.Y.
CONDITION: Good, I'd say. This card is only lightly soiled, with generally just slightly worn edges and corners. However, there's about a 1/2" tear in the left edge, which has been "repaired" with a piece of clear tape on the back. There's also a small crease across the upper left corner. (Please see scans.)
MULTIPLE ITEM SHIPPING DISCOUNT: I will ship up to 4 cards for the single base shipping charge shown. For purchases of more than 4 cards, the shipping charge will increase by just a small increment for every 4 additional cards.
--------------------------------------------------------------
REVERSE TEXT: KANSAS.
FRANCISCO VASQUEZ DE CORONADO commanded a Spanish expedition in 1541, which marched from Mexico to Kansas in search of gold and silver. The first authentic account of the buffalo is supplied by him. The French fur-traders from Louisiana and Canada established a trading station in Kansas as early as 1705, and for nearly a century these gallant chevaliers held little commercial posts within the prairie regions. Kansas Territory, when first organized, included that part of Colorado east of the crest of the Rocky Mountains. Among the first Americans to visit this region were the expeditionary forces of Lewis and Clark, in 1804, and Major Long, in 1819. The overland trade on the Santa Fé trail began in 1823. The outward-bound traders rendezvoused at Council Grove, until trains were made up strong enough to beat off the Indians on the perilous route of 800 miles. A fort was erected on the Missouri, in 1821, to protect this trade, and received the name of Leavenworth, after Colonel Leavenworth, of the Third United States Infantry, then in garrison.
A bitter struggle set in regarding this Territory between the anti-slavery and pro-slavery parties in Congress and in the Territory. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 repealed the condition about slavery, and left it for each commonwealth to settle for itself whether its soil should be free or slave. A terrible civil war ensued, lasting for several years, and "Bleeding Kansas" aroused the pity of the world. The convention at Wyandotte, in 1859, produced a constitution forbidding slavery, and the people voted for it, 10,421 to 5,530, thus settling the vexed question forever.
