Simone Lawson
The Lecompton Constitution was drafted by pro-slavery advocates and included provisions to protect slavery in the state of Kansas and excluded free people of colour from its bill of rights. The document was written in response to the anti-slavery position of the 1855 Topeka Constitution. In December 1857, a rigged election approved the Lecompton Constitution, but this was overwhelmingly defeated in a second vote in January 1858 by a majority of voters in the Kansas Territory. By rejecting the Lecompton Constitution, Kansas voters highlighted the irregular and fraudulent voting practices that had marked earlier efforts to create a state constitution in Kansas that allowed slavery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of rejection | 2nd August 1858 |
| Vote count | 11,300 to 1,788 |
| Result | Kansas was admitted to the Union as a free state on 29th January 1861 |
| Impact on Democratic Party | Further fractured the party |
| Impact on Republican Party | Built the Republican base |
| Impact on Stephen Douglas | Southerners felt betrayed by his actions and blacklisted him |
| Impact on 1860 Election | Made the Democratic Party unable to stop Lincoln's election |
Explore related products
$9.99
What You'll Learn
- Kansas voters rejected the Lecompton Constitution in a fair election
- The Lecompton Constitution was pro-slavery, protecting slaveholding and excluding free Black people
- The rejection of the constitution led to Kansas being admitted to the Union as a free state
- The Lecompton Constitution was drafted in response to the anti-slavery Topeka Constitution
- The vote highlighted the irregular and fraudulent voting practices that had marked earlier efforts
Kansas voters rejected the Lecompton Constitution in a fair election
The Lecompton Constitution was drafted by pro-slavery advocates and included provisions to protect slavery in the state of Kansas. It excluded free people of colour from its bill of rights, preventing free blacks from entering the state. The document was written in response to the anti-slavery position of the 1855 Topeka Constitution.
The Lecompton Constitution was ratified by Kansas voters in December 1857, though this election was tainted as free-state supporters boycotted. In January 1858, Kansas voters overwhelmingly rejected the Lecompton Constitution in a fair election. This rejection highlighted the irregular and fraudulent voting practices that had marked earlier efforts to create a state constitution in Kansas that allowed slavery.
The Lecompton Constitution was the second of four proposed constitutions for the state of Kansas. It was drafted in Lecompton, the territorial capital of Kansas, in 1857. The document was framed by pro-slavery advocates and included clauses protecting slaveholding. It added to the frictions leading up to the US Civil War.
The rejection of the Lecompton Constitution by Kansas voters in 1858 was a significant moment in the state's history. It demonstrated the power of the people to shape the future of Kansas and their commitment to a free state. The subsequent admittance of Kansas to the Union as a free state in 1861 was a direct result of the voters' rejection of the Lecompton Constitution. This rejection also had wider political implications, including the fracturing of the Democratic Party and the building of the Republican base.
Who Counts as 'Others' in the Constitution?
You may want to see also
The Lecompton Constitution was pro-slavery, protecting slaveholding and excluding free Black people
The Lecompton Constitution was drafted by pro-slavery advocates and included provisions to protect slavery in the state of Kansas and exclude free Black people. It was written in response to the anti-slavery position of the 1855 Topeka Constitution. The Lecompton Constitution was ratified by Kansas voters in December 1857, but only after a rigged election and with free staters boycotting.
The document enshrined slavery in the proposed state and protected the rights of slaveholders. It also excluded free Black people from its bill of rights. Article 7 of the Lecompton Constitution protected the right to enslaved "property", preventing the legislature from emancipating enslaved people without their enslavers' consent and full compensation. It also left the question of whether new slaves could be brought into the territory to the voters.
The Lecompton Constitution was opposed by Northern anti-Lecompton Democrats and Republicans, who blocked the passage of the bill in the House, causing a stalemate. A compromise was offered, allowing Kansans to amend their constitution at any time, rather than wait the stipulated seven years. However, this was rejected by President Buchanan. The Lecompton Constitution was then sent back to Kansas to be voted on again. This time, in an open and fair election, Kansas voters overwhelmingly rejected the Lecompton Constitution in January 1858, with a vote of 10,226 to 138.
The rejection of the Lecompton Constitution by Kansas voters highlighted the irregular and fraudulent voting practices that had marked earlier efforts to create a state constitution in Kansas that allowed slavery. It also added to the frictions leading up to the US Civil War. Kansas was subsequently admitted to the Union as a free state on January 29, 1861, after adopting the Wyandotte Constitution.
The Constitution: Strengthening the League's Friendship
You may want to see also
The rejection of the constitution led to Kansas being admitted to the Union as a free state
The Lecompton Constitution was drafted in 1857 by pro-slavery advocates and included provisions to protect slavery in the state of Kansas. It excluded free people of colour from its bill of rights, preventing free blacks from entering the state. The document was written in response to the anti-slavery position of the 1855 Topeka Constitution.
The Lecompton Constitution was ratified by Kansas voters in December 1857, with free-state supporters boycotting the vote. This election was deemed rigged, and the constitution was overwhelmingly defeated in a second vote in January 1858 by a majority of voters in the Kansas Territory. The rejection of the Lecompton Constitution led to Kansas being admitted to the Union as a free state on January 29, 1861.
The Kansas statehood bill passed the Senate on March 23, 1858, but was blocked in the House, causing a stalemate. A compromise was offered, but President Buchanan rejected it. Instead, a joint House-Senate Committee broke the stalemate by adopting the English Bill, which proposed that the Lecompton Constitution be sent back to Kansas for another vote. This allowed Kansas voters to reject the constitution altogether, which they did on August 2, 1858, by a vote of 11,300 to 1,788. This rejection highlighted the irregular and fraudulent voting practices that had marked earlier efforts to create a state constitution in Kansas that allowed slavery.
The rejection of the Lecompton Constitution had significant political consequences. It further fractured the Democratic Party and built the Republican base. It also led to the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, as the division over the Lecompton Constitution contributed to the Democrats' failure to nominate a presidential candidate. Lincoln's victory, in turn, served as the catalyst for the secession of the lower South states.
Sleep Apnea: When is a Home Test Medically Necessary?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Lecompton Constitution was drafted in response to the anti-slavery Topeka Constitution
The Lecompton Constitution was drafted in 1857 in response to the anti-slavery position of the 1855 Topeka Constitution. The territorial legislature, which mainly consisted of enslavers due to widespread electoral fraud, met at the designated capital of Lecompton in September 1857 to produce a rival document.
The Lecompton Constitution was strongly pro-slavery and included provisions to protect slavery in the state and exclude free people of colour from its bill of rights. It prevented the legislature from emancipating enslaved people without their enslavers' consent and full compensation. It also prohibited free blacks from entering the state and guaranteed slaveholders their property rights.
The Lecompton Constitution was initially approved in a rigged election in December 1857, but it was overwhelmingly defeated in a second vote in January 1858 by a majority of voters in the Kansas Territory. The rejection of the Lecompton Constitution and the subsequent admittance of Kansas as a free state in 1861 highlighted the irregular and fraudulent voting practices that had marked earlier efforts to create a state constitution in Kansas that allowed slavery.
The Lecompton Constitution was drafted by pro-slavery advocates in response to the anti-slavery Topeka Constitution, and its rejection by Kansas voters was a significant step towards Kansas becoming a free state.
Get Your Free Copy of the Constitution
You may want to see also
The vote highlighted the irregular and fraudulent voting practices that had marked earlier efforts
The Lecompton Constitution was drafted by pro-slavery advocates and included provisions to protect slavery in the state of Kansas and to exclude free people of colour from its bill of rights. The document was written in response to the anti-slavery position of the 1855 Topeka Constitution. It was signed in 1857 in Constitution Hall, Lecompton, the territorial capital of Kansas.
The vote on the Lecompton Constitution did not represent true popular sovereignty as voters were not given the option to reject the constitution entirely—the true anti-slavery option. Instead, they could choose between a “Constitution with Slavery” and a “Constitution with no Slavery”. The latter clause would not have made Kansas a free state; it merely would have banned the future importation of enslaved people into Kansas.
The Lecompton Constitution was first approved in a rigged election in December 1857. Free-state supporters boycotted the vote, resulting in the election of a pro-slavery convention. The referendum suffered serious voting irregularities, with over half of the 6,000 votes deemed fraudulent. However, in January 1858, Kansas voters overwhelmingly rejected the Lecompton Constitution in a second vote. This rejection highlighted the irregular and fraudulent voting practices that had marked earlier efforts to create a state constitution in Kansas that allowed slavery.
Falling Asleep at the Wheel: DUI or Not?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Lecompton Constitution was a pro-slavery document drafted in 1857 in Lecompton, Kansas. It was the second of four proposed state constitutions of Kansas.
Kansas voters rejected the Lecompton Constitution because it was a pro-slavery document. The voters wanted Kansas to be admitted to the Union as a free state.
The rejection of the Lecompton Constitution led to Kansas being admitted to the Union as a free state on January 29, 1861. It also highlighted the irregular and fraudulent voting practices that had marked earlier efforts to create a state constitution in Kansas that allowed slavery.
President James Buchanan supported the Lecompton Constitution and recommended its approval to Congress. He also wanted Kansas to be admitted to the Union as a slave state. However, Congress balked at this idea, and a compromise was offered calling for the resubmission of the constitution to the territory's voters.
