Introduction
As the United States of America lurched towards the Civil War, the State of Kansas found herself torn into two. Two rival ‘governments’ sprang up, each with its own capital, one for a Slave-owning state and one for a Free state. In 1861, Kansas declared for the Union but it had been a close-run thing and some of her sons had not been too nice in their methods.
THESE rival sections [in Kansas] soon set up governments to suit themselves. The Free-state settlers had their headquarters at Topeka and Lawrence; the Slave-state, at Leavenworth and Lecompton. From 1854 to 1859 that part of the country suffered so much from the efforts of both parties to get control that it fairly earned the name of “Bleeding Kansas.”
In the course of this period of violence and bloodshed the Slave-state men attacked Lawrence, plundered the town, and burned some of its chief buildings. This roused the spirit of vengeance in the heart of ‘Old John Brown’ of Osawatomie.* Brown got together a small band, surprised a little settlement of Slave-state men on Pottawatomie Creek, south of Lawrence, dragged five of them from their beds, and deliberately murdered them. Later, Brown crossed into Missouri, destroyed considerable property, freed eleven slaves, and shot one of the slave-owners. The truth appears to be that each party in Kansas was resolved to drive out the other.
* Osawatomie is a city in Kansas. It takes its name from two streams, the Osage and the Potawatomie, ultimately named after Native American tribes. Primary stress is on the ‘wa’ syllable: oh-suh-WAH-toe-mee.
Précis
From 1854 to 1859, the State of Kansas in America was torn apart by fighting over slavery, earning the name of ‘Bleeding Kansas.’ Following a raid by pro-slavery activists on the city of Lawrence, John Brown of Osawatomie responded with two vicious attacks on pro-slavery settlements, setting some slaves free but also murdering five men in cold blood. (58 / 60 words)
From 1854 to 1859, the State of Kansas in America was torn apart by fighting over slavery, earning the name of ‘Bleeding Kansas.’ Following a raid by pro-slavery activists on the city of Lawrence, John Brown of Osawatomie responded with two vicious attacks on pro-slavery settlements, setting some slaves free but also murdering five men in cold blood.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, besides, despite, if, not, or, whereas, whether.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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