Kansas, derived from the Siouan word Kansa meaning "People
of the south wind", is a Midwestern state in the United
States.
Kansas, as part of the Louisiana Purchase, was annexed to the
United States in 1803 as unorganized territory. Kansas then
became part of the Missouri Territory until 1821.
The
Kansas-Nebraska Act became law on May 30, 1854 and established
the U.S. territories of Nebraska and Kansas. Fort Leavenworth
was the first community in the area around 1827. To travelers
en route to Utah, California, or Oregon, Kansas was a waystop
and outfitting place. On March 30, 1855 "Border Ruffians" from
Missouri invaded Kansas during the territory's first election
and forced the election of a pro-slavery legislature.
Kansas entered the Union as a free state on January 29, 1861,
making it the 34th state to enter the Union. Civil War
veterans constructed homesteads in Kansas following the war.
On February 19, 1861 it became the first U.S. state to
prohibit all alcoholic beverages. On August 21, 1863, William
Quantrill led Quantrill's Raid into Lawrence destroying much
of the city and killing hundreds of people. Wild Bill Hickok
was a deputy marshal at Fort Riley and a marshal at Hays and
Abilene.
Kansas has been home to President Eisenhower, presidential
candidates Bob Dole and Alf Landon, Amelia Earhart, and Carrie
Nation. Famous athletes from Kansas include Barry Sanders,
Gale Sayers, Jim Ryun, Walter Johnson, Maurice Greene, and
Lynette Woodard. Despite its agricultural reputation, Kansas
is the home of Walter Chrysler of automotive fame, Clyde
Cessna (aviation) and Jack St. Kirby (microchip inventor) and
George Washington Carver (educator/African American pioneer)
