Date of Award
2001
Document Type
Honors Thesis (Open Access)
Department
Colby College. History Dept.
Advisor(s)
Elizabeth D. Leonard
Abstract
Even before the Civil War broke out, pro-slavery and abolitionist groups were fighting for the future of slavery in the state of Missouri. Jayhawkers took the abolitionist cause into their own hands, and border ruffians did the same for slavery. When war eventually broke out, it was therefore fought by and against the people and characterized by guerrilla activity. Some of these guerrillas, like Quantrill and Anderson, had histories of criminal activities, whereas others, like the James brothers and Cole Younger, went on to further influence American history after the war. As the Union gained control of Missouri, Confederate guerrillas became isolated, desperate, and criminal. Through tracing the history of Missouri before and during the Civil War, these men were examples of the violent, bitter and tumultuous history of the state.
Keywords
Guerrillas -- Missouri -- History -- 19th century, Guerrillas -- West (U.S.) -- History, Missouri -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Underground movements, United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Underground movements, West (U.S.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Underground movements
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Drew, "Civil War in Missouri: a look at Confederate guerrillas' four-stage devolution" (2001). Honors Theses. Paper 128.https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/honorstheses/128
Copyright
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