Like many other states of the United States of America, Kansas was also occupied by the Native Americans from the beginning. The history of Kansas also witnessed exploration expeditions of explorers from European continents. Francisco Vásquez de Coronado was the earliest explorer from Europe to reach Kansas in the year 1541.
During the Louisiana Purchase that took place in the year 1803, Kansas became an integral part of USA, although much of its southwestern part had to be secured from Spain, Mexico and Republic of Texas in the Mexican-American War. This war was fought in the year 1848.
The Santa Fe Trail, which was used to move products and goods passed through Kansas in the years between 1821 and 1880. The wagon ruts of the Santa Fe Trail can be witnessed even now in and around the prairie. The Santa Fe Trail was also used to transport silver and fur.
In the history of Kansas, the white Americans made the Fort Leavenworth their earliest quarters in the year 1827 and their numbers increased in this area right after the Kansas-Nebraska Act which was passed in the year 1854. This act was the one that created the two states of Kansas and Nebraska. The area of Kansas comprised of places like Denver, Pueblo and Colorado Springs as it happened to extend as far as the Continental Divide.
The state of Kansas was the 34th state to become a part of United States of America on 29th January, 1861 and stood as a state free from slaves to be a part of the union. Prior to achieving statehood, the state of Kansas was known by the name of Kansas Territory. Topeka became the capital city of the state of Kansas.
William Quantrill was denied commission since his attack on Lawrence demolished the city of Lawrence and killed about 250 innocent people. This attack leveled him with charges of domestic terrorism.
The history of Kansas has been favorable to the war veterans of the American Civil War, as numerous veterans who fought the war made Kansas their home. It was also favorable for the African Americans as numerous black colonies were set up in the state of Kansas. John Brown and Benjamin Singleton are given credit for helping the African Americans to settle down in the state of Kansas.
The people of the state of Kansas are known for serving in the armed forces since the beginning. The state of Kansas was the first place where the actual battle started during the American Civil War. Throughout the history of Kansas, the people were known to have served in the forces especially during the Mexican revolution. Approximately 90,000 soldiers from Kansas got themselves recruited to provide their valuable services along the border of Mexico and United States of America.
Even during World War I, the people from the state of Kansas recruited themselves in the army and were primarily a part of the Infantry divisions numbered 35, 42, 89 and 92. These infantry divisions fought war against Germany, Bulgaria and Turkey.
During the Cold War, the state of Kansas served as a defense for the United States of America by working on developing technologies and weapons to defend United States of America in case of a potential nuclear attack from the enemy. The deadly and dangerous ICBM’s (intercontinental ballistic missiles) were placed in underground facilities in the state of Kansas during 1950 to 1960. But in the 1980s, these facilities that were home to ICBM’s were decommissioned.