The Lincoln-Douglas debates were about the status of the new state of Kansas, whether it should be free or slave. Douglas wanted a referendum. Since he won the election, a referendum there was, only Missourians crossed over and staked claims in Kansas so that they could vote for it to be a slave state, then went back home, abandoning their “claim”. The actual residents of Kansas objected strenuously to the “Missouri Claim Jumpers’,” manipulations, and the jumpers came back and wiped out the town of Lawrence. Frank and Jesse and their cousins the Younger brothers were among those who took part in the Massacre. The Missouri raiders were known as Bushwackers. There was an early Gunsmoke episode about the whole incident, I think in either Season 2 or 3. Anyway, that’s how Kansas became known as Bloody Kansas, and that’s where John Brown started out on his bloody rampage, to avenge the dead of Kansas and make slavery an unsafe venture for slave owners. Like-minded killers were known as Jayhawkers. It’s just ironic that now Missourians are among those beginning to break the mold again.
Reference bump - good summary!