The Kansas-Nebraska Act was created to link the east and west coasts of America together to form the transcontinental railroad. America had growing interests in trading with Asian countries, and this railroad was the key. Throughout the 1850s America purchased over $10 million worth of land to build said railroad. After the Kansas-Nebraska act passed, Kansas became the center of attention. Due to building tension between the abolitionists and the pro-slavery parties Kansas turned into a very violent place. In May of 1856, a pro-slavery mob reeked havoc on the town of Lawrence, stealing property, demolishing buildings, and even setting the governor’s home on fire. Two days after the attack on Lawrence, a man named John Brown set out for vengeance.