The American Civil War was in 1861-1865 it was a critical time for the country.Abraham Lincoln, a republican and had just became president. He won against Stephen A. Douglas a democrat who was in favor of slavery. Lincoln's win prompted seven southern states to form the confederate states of America (confederacy). The seven states were:South Carolina,Mississippi,Florida,Alabama,Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.These states economy relied on a plantation system using African American slaves for labor.The Republican Party was determined to prevent the spread of slavery.The Union and Confederate states were engaged in the war, to abolish slavery, territorial integrity and the dissolution of the Confederate states.Union men believed the purpose was …show more content…
He was the oldest out of twelve children.He was born on July 31,1837 in Ohio. He was a well educated man,and at the age of sixteen he became a school teacher. In 1854, at the age of seventeen his father died,so he was left with all the families financial debt. He moved away and looked for ways to earn money. He headed to Mendota Illinois, and began working in the lumber yard unloading timber from railcars. One night working the late shift he shot and killed a man. He was arrested and claimed self defense and later the police let him go free. He was asked to leave and not come back. He then moved to Fort Wayne Indiana, and went back to teaching.The district loved him and was impressed,but the pay was nothing so he decided to leave. He packed up and headed back home with nothing in his pockets. He spent the winter living in his family's shack growing more bored everyday. Starting to go crazy he decided to move to Kansas territory in seek of cheap land. He met Henry Torrey and Harmon Beeson, they were two local men looking to build a farm for their family. They agreed to pay for Quantrill's land for a couple months of work.William stopped working after a short time and stayed in the woods with a gun. The men sued him but he only paid half of what he was supposed to. They stayed friends but it was never the same again. William decided to go to Tuscarora lake, with some friends,but he was caught stealing from