Ad Astra per Aspera Kansas: Territory to Statehood is the story
about the development of the area of the United States we know today as
the State of Kansas. The territorial period was full of violence,
intrigue and political manipulation but Ad Astra per Aspera Kansas:
Territory to Statehood also tells the story of the national crisis
over slavery and how the admission of Kansas to the Union literally tore
the nation apart.
The story of territorial Kansas involves a lot of details. Many are
discussed in Ad Astra per Aspera Kansas: Territory to Statehood
but due to time constraints many more are mentioned either directly or
indirectly in this teaching manual. As you view the video, keep in mind
that there are stories behind the stories mentioned. The events of
territorial Kansas are all intricately intertwined not only to other
events that occurred within Kansas Territory but also to events that
occurred throughout the nation. The Kansas Territorial Period is
certainly a good example of cause and effect.
The state motto “Ad Astra per Aspera” means “To the stars through
difficulties” and certainly describes the Kansas territorial period. The
life or death of slavery and of the nation depended on Kansas. The
fabric of modern American freedom was woven in Kansas. Abraham Lincoln
was right, “No other territory has ever had such a history.”
