Bleeding Kansas
But these votes cast in favor of slavery were not without controversy. Congressional inquiries into the elections found massive voter fraud, and they delivered a report claiming that the free state votes actually represented the will of the people. What is more, the Congressional group found that the free state government formed in opposition to the proslavery group was the rightful government of Kansas. But the federal government ignored the findings and continued to recognize the proslavery legislature as the legitimate government of Kansas.
Though voter fraud was discovered, the proslavery legislature of Kansas continued to be recognized.
Throughout it all, violence was commonplace in the territory. Men were killed, others were tarred and feathered. Still others were kidnapped and had their life's possessions stolen, burned or otherwise destroyed. Homes were ransacked, and stores were looted. Much of the violence was perpetrated by proslavery forces, but abolitionists, such as John Brown, led groups of vigilantes who brought their own brand of violence - including the butchering of five proslavery men at Pottawatomie Creek in Kansas.
