Kansas is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by Nebraska to the north, Missouri to the east, Oklahoma to the south, and Colorado to the west. Kansas has a rich and diverse history, having played a significant role in the American frontier, the American Civil War, and the American Dust Bowl.

The area now known as Kansas was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Kansa, Osage, and Pawnee. The first European explorers to visit the area were Spanish conquistadors, who arrived in the 16th century. However, it wasn't until the mid-19th century that American settlers began to move into the region in large numbers.

One of the defining moments in Kansas' history was the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which opened up the territory for settlement and paved the way for the American Civil War. The act sparked a conflict known as "Bleeding Kansas" between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers. The conflict was characterized by acts of violence and terrorism, and eventually led to Kansas becoming a state in 1861.

During the American Civil War, Kansas was a key battleground between Union and Confederate forces. The state supplied thousands of soldiers to the Union army and was a center of guerrilla warfare. After the war, Kansas became an important center of agriculture and industry, with railroads and transportation networks connecting the state to the rest of the country.

However, the early 20th century was a difficult time for Kansas, as the state was hit hard by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl was a period of severe dust storms and drought that lasted from the 1930s to the 1940s, causing widespread crop failure and migration from the state. Despite these challenges, Kansas continued to grow and develop, and today it is a thriving center of agriculture, industry, and technology.

Downtown Wichita

Discussion Questions

1. Which Native American tribes originally lived in what is now Kansas?
2. What was “Bleeding Kansas,” and why was it important to U.S. history?
3. How did the Dust Bowl affect the people and farms in Kansas?
4. In what ways did Kansas change after the Civil War?

Glossary

• Kansas-Nebraska Act – A law passed in 1854 that allowed settlers to decide if they wanted slavery, leading to conflict in Kansas.
• Bleeding Kansas – A violent period in Kansas when pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups fought over the state’s future.
• Dust Bowl – A time in the 1930s when huge dust storms and drought ruined farms and forced many people to leave the Great Plains.
• Guerrilla warfare – A type of fighting where small groups use surprise attacks rather than large battles.