Editing Miami County, Kansas (section)

===Pre-Civil War Period===
When [[Kansas Territory]] was incorporated in 1854 due to the [[Kansas–Nebraska Act]], the [[Missouri Compromise]] of 1820 was essentially repealed. Bordering the slave state of [[Missouri]] to its east, the county (Miami) and surrounding areas became a location for violence between abolitionists and the "[[border ruffians]]" of Missouri. These acts of violence and battles that took place primarily from 1854 to 1858, became known as border wars, and Kansas became known as [[Bleeding Kansas]]. Kansas Territory was not yet a state, and it was a battle on which forces would become dominant, slave or free. Many abolitionists came from other states to live in the area and ensure Kansas' entry as a state as a free, or anti-slavery one. The county's most notable abolitionist was [[John Brown (abolitionist)|John Brown]], who moved to [[Osawatomie, Kansas|Osawatomie]], making it the headquarters for him and his anti-slavery forces. As a result of this, Osawatomie, as well as the surrounding countryside and communities became the center for several battles and acts of violence during this period. Near Osawatomie are historic sites of John Brown, such as his famous Civil War lookout.<ref name="MCKH" />