Fact Check: Kansas was admitted to the US as a free state.

Fact Check: "Kansas was admitted to the US as a free state."

What We Know

Kansas was officially admitted to the United States as the 34th state on January 29, 1861. This admission came under the Wyandotte Constitution, which was a free state constitution. The process leading to Kansas's statehood was marked by significant conflict over the issue of slavery, known as "Bleeding Kansas," where pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions clashed violently over whether Kansas would enter the Union as a free or slave state (Kansas Historical Society, Kansas State Archives).

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed for popular sovereignty, which meant that the settlers of Kansas could decide whether to allow slavery. This led to intense political and social strife, resulting in multiple failed attempts to draft a constitution that would secure statehood. Ultimately, the Wyandotte Constitution was adopted in 1859, which explicitly prohibited slavery, and this constitution was accepted by Congress (EBSCO Research Starters, History).

Analysis

The claim that Kansas was admitted as a free state is supported by multiple historical sources. The Kansas Historical Society details the tumultuous history leading to statehood, emphasizing that Kansas's admission was facilitated by the withdrawal of Southern senators who had previously opposed the anti-slavery constitution (Kansas Historical Society).

The official records from the Kansas Territory confirm that the Wyandotte Constitution was ratified and that it prohibited slavery, thus categorizing Kansas as a free state upon its admission (Kansas State Archives). Furthermore, the bill for Kansas's admission explicitly stated that it was to enter the Union as a free state, which was a critical factor during the legislative process (National Archives).

While some sources may highlight the contentious nature of Kansas's path to statehood, they do not contradict the fact that it was ultimately admitted as a free state. The historical context provided by sources like Legends of America illustrates the efforts made by anti-slavery advocates to ensure that Kansas would not become a slave state, further reinforcing the accuracy of the claim.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
Kansas was indeed admitted to the United States as a free state on January 29, 1861, under the Wyandotte Constitution, which prohibited slavery. The historical evidence from multiple credible sources confirms this fact, making the claim accurate.