# data[].attributes.body
John Brown led a Massacre that would change history. Abolishonists massacred Franklin county with a target of the pro-slavery settlers. They ended up killing 5 people.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
American Experience
Clip: Season 1 | 1m 26s

On the night of May 24th, 1856, Brown and four of his sons dragged five pro-slavery men from their cabins, and hacked them to pieces with broadswords. "Brown is not simply evening the score in Kansas. He's really also trying to strike terror into the hearts of pro-slavery settlers."

Aired: 01/08/13

Rating: NR

Problems Playing Video? Report a Problem |

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
American Experience | The Pottawatomie Massacre | Season 1

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
American Experience Clip: Season 1 | 1m 26s On the night of May 24th, 1856, Brown and four of his sons dragged five pro-slavery men from their cabins, and hacked them to pieces with broadswords. "Brown is not simply evening the score in Kansas.

# data[].attributes.body
The election of 1860 was an important election. Abraham Lincoln was running against John C. Breckinridge (D). Lincoln won.

# data[].attributes.body
John Brown and a small group raided Harpers Ferry in attempt to start an armed revolt of slaves and destroy slavery. One of Brown's sons were killed.

# data[].attributes.body
Lincoln challenged Douglas in the debates. In the debates, boths sides stressed about their side of the idea of slavery.

# data[].attributes.body
A man named Dred Scott was sueing for his freedom, only to be overturned in his hearing in the Supreme Court. 11 years later, however, the justices ruled that even if he lived on free land, he cannot be a free U.S citizen.

# data[].attributes.body
When Charles Sumner criticized pro-slavery people in Kansas, Preston Brooks beat him with his cane in response in the Senate Chambers.

# data[].attributes.body
People started new lives in Kansas, but there was a lot of contraversy over the topic, slavery. People couldn't agree, so they thought violence should settle it. Blood was shed, and one man had died in the attack on Lawrence.

# data[].attributes.body
Stephen Douglas introduced the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which would divide the Louisiana Purchase into two states, Nebraska and Kansas and let the people decide on their state's stand on slavery.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How one piece of legislation divided a nation - Ben Labaree, Jr.

# data[].attributes.body
Franklin Pierce gained southerners trust by claiming to keep the Slave Act and Compromise of 1850. The Whigs (Republican party) also nominated generals such as William Henry Harrison because of their beliefs. Pierce ended up winning by a long shot.

# data[].attributes.body
Abolitionists used writings and stories of slaves to gain awareness and sympathy to the slaves to hopefully show others how they were treated.

# data[].attributes.body
This act made it a crime to help runaway slaves and let officials suspected fugitives to the U.S. commisioners, who decided what they should do with them.

# data[].attributes.body
5 bills got passed that made a compromise between the states, including deciding which new land would be free states and which wouldn't.

# data[].attributes.body
The United States added more than 500,000 square miles of new land, which made debate about slavery and the new land.