Kansas History Standards (Middle and High School):

• KH8B3I2 explain why territorial government was
  affected by slavery conflict
• KH8B3I6 analyze how the slave debate affect Kansas
  statehood
• KH11B3I1 describe the development of territorial
  towns in relation to the slavery issue

Others:

See lesson plan.

Knowledge:

• Understand the elements of town development
  and how it was affected by the conflict over the
  extension of slavery into the territory

Skills:

• Using primary sources (letters, advertisements,
  government documents)

• Why would town development be important in a
  new territory?
• How were towns created in the 1850s?
• Why was the slave issue connected to town
  development?

• Groups of students work together to create and
  “sell” their towns.

1. Map key locations and geographical features of northeast Kansas during the territorial period.
2. Learn the vocabulary terms preemption, speculation, share, and quitclaim from reading primary source
   documents.
3. Apply knowledge about town settlement through role-playing as a town surveyor, promoter, city clerk, and
   town commissioner.
4. Groups of students create fictitious towns and sell town shares to other students. The towns selling the
   most shares win.
5. Through a random drawing, two towns are determined to be slave towns. The populations of these towns
   will determine if Kansas is free or slave. Discuss the ramifications.