THE KANSAS CITY STORY FOR KIDSMonroe Dodd Daniel Serda

KC

KCTHE KANSAS CITY STORYfor kids

LET’S GO TIME TRAVELING THROUGH

THE MAGIC OF HISTORY!

Monroe Dodd Daniel Serda

TIME TRAVELHOW TO NAVIGATE THIS BOOKThese symbols will show up in this adventure through time, now you’ll know what they mean!

Then and Now: Make a connection between what is going on in the text and what is still happening today. For instance, if there is a historical site you can still visit.

Glossery: Make sure you know what you’re reading.

Pop Culture Connection: What was going on in pop culture at the same time these events were happening in Kansas City?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in the past? What it was like to live in a world without electricity, television, or telephones? This book and the stories in it are designed to do just that—to transport you to the past, as if you were in a time machine. Using words, pictures, maps and activities, this book will take you and your imagination into the history of this place we call Kansas City.

TIME TRAVELIN POP CULTUREMODERN DAY INTERPRETATIONS OF HOW IT WORKSMovies and television shows have been obsessed with time travel for as

long as it has been in the relm of thought. Jumping from one time pe-

riod to another can be seen in classic 80s films like Back to the Future,

to witty British televsion shows like Dr. Who, and even in modern chil-

dren’s classics like Harry Potter. Time travel adds a fantastical element

everyone can love to indulge in.

CONTENTS

01 1800s-1853 Bend of the river 02

02 1854-1865 Brother against brother 16

03 1866-1893 The city takes off 26

04 1894-1914 Making life better 42

05 1915-1939 A swinging town 56

06 1940-1963 Wartime, peacetime 74

07 1964-1979 In the spotlight 88

08 1980-2000 Where do we go? 102

09 Epilogue 113

George Caleb Bingham, a Missourian affected by Order No. 11, created this dramatic painting intended to create outrage at General Thomas Ewing. Ewing issued General Order No. 11, requiring evacuation of most Missourians living in the counties along the Kan-sas border. Twenty thousand people were forced to leave the area and find new homes

THE ISSUE IS LOYALTY TO THE UNION.

THE ISSUE IS LOYALTY TO THE UNION.

BROTHER AGAINST BROTHERKansas City isn’t much of a town in

1854, but this will change soon. The

national argument over slavery and

states’ rights has divided the South

and the North for decades. Suddenly,

with the question of statehood for

Kansas, our region becomes a central

battleground for the future of the

American Union.

Slaveholders in Missouri are pit-

ted against New Englanders who

are establishing towns like Quindaro,

Lawrence, and Manhattan. The new

arrivals hope to keep Kansas a free

state and help end slavery. The is-

sue is loyalty to the Union. Should

the United States stay together as a

single country, or should states be

allowed to become miniature nations?

The question is settled more often in

violent brawls than in polite debates.

The tensions in Kansas City and

the eastern part of Kansas are high,

and the violence is the rule of the day.

Far away in Washington, congress

tries to compromise—but the battle

lines have been drawn with Kansas on

one side and Missouri on the other.

18541865

In the 20th century, many Ameri-

cans will believe that politics is dirty.

They will say that politicians some-

times focus too much on personality

and too little on issues.

In the years leading to the Civil

War, however, personality and issues

are not easy to separate. You are ei-

ther for or against slavery. Your politi-

cal beliefs determine whom you call a

friend, whether your neighbors talk to

you, and even whether the merchant

on the riverfront will sell you food.

This is why the Civil War will be

known as the war that pits brother

against brother—a war that will end

with more than a million Americans,

nearly one or every 20 persons in the

country, killed in battle.

It may be hard to imagine that

people can feel so strongly about an

issue that they will burn down some-

one’s house or even kill another per-

son. But that is what makes this the

gloomiest period in American history.

Once the Civil War begins, the

major battles will be fought largely

east of the Mississippi river. Yet in the

years before the war, the debate over

the future of the United States will be

played out in the Kansas City area,

at the boundary between North and

South, East and West. These events

will occur on streets as ordinary as

the ones where you live. It’s not hard

to imagine that these events are real.

The names of the places sound famil-

iar—Lawrence, Wyandotte, Olathe,

Topeka, Westport. So do the names

of some of the villains—or heroes,

depending on your point of view.

In 20th century Kansas City, in

Loose Park south of the County Club

Plaza, you will see cannons commem-

orating a wartime battle that took

place there. On Lexington, Missouri,

just east of Kansas City, a Civil War

cannonball will still be lodged in a

column at the country courthouse.

This is the real magic of history—

not looking at the past in a wistful or

a dreamy way—but recognizing that

people in the past had to wrestle with

difficult and troubling issues.

John Brown

William T. Anderson

FREEDOM VERSUS SLAVERYThe push to create a state west of Missouri came from farmers, investors and

backers of a trans conteninental railroad. In Congress a plan was pushed to

convert Indian Territory into Nebraska. Missourians feared that, if Kansas en-

tered the Union as a free state, Missouri slaves would slip away to it. In 1855, so

many slaves were being stolen or had run away

that Kansas City imposed a curfew.

Black people, slave or free, could not be

on the streets at night without a pass. By 1860

there were 4,000 slaves in Jackson County.

Anti-slavery settlers won the Kansas territo-

rial Legislature in 1857. In early 1858 they won a

constitutional referendum. These were growing

signs that the free-state side would win.

In 1859 a constitutional convention met in Wyandotte, just west of Kansas

City. It adopted a plan to admit Kansas into the Union as a free state. The plan

was sent to Congress but blocked by Southerners there. In late 1860, Abraham

Lincoln was elected president and several Southern states seceded from the

Union. Then, Kansas had enough votes in Congress to win admission as a free

state in January 1861.

I, JOHN BROWN, AM NOW QUITE CERTAIN

THAT THE CRIMES OF THIS GUILTY LAND WILL

NEVER BE PURGED AWAY BUT WITH BLOOD.

BUSHWHACKERPro-slavery fighter engaged in plunder and property

destruction. Also called a border ruffian.

FREE-SOILERSPeople who did not want slavery in a territory.

19

THE WAR BEGINSMissouri allowed slavery, just as the Southern states that were seceding from the Union. When the Civil War began in early 1861, Union troops quickly took control of St. Louis, the states largest city, and Jefferson City, the capital.

Pro-Confederate Missouri officials

were forced to flee to Texas. Even

though these Confederate offi-

cials voted for Missouri to join the

Confederate States of America,

they had no power to enfoce the

decision. Missouri remained a

slave state and a member of the

Union. In June 1861, only a few

months after the war started,

Kansas City was occupied by 200

federal soldiers. They were sta-

tioned at Camp Union, pictured

below. Despite the presence of

these soldiers, the city had a

sizable number of residents who

openly sided with Confederates.

THE BORDEROutside Kansas City, along the

Kansas-Missouri border, Mis-

souri’s Southern sympathizers

and Kansas’ Unionists raided one

another throughout the war. One

side’s raid would by avenged by

the other. Raiders on each side

burned, looted and plundered

farms where they thought their

opponents’ sympathizers lived.

Sometimes they killed male occu-

pants. Kansas raiders were called

Jayhawkers or Red Legs. Missouri

raiders were called bushwhackers

or border ruffians.

HOT HEADSAmong leaders on the pro-Union

side, James Lane of Kansas was

one of the most extreme. In fall

1861 his band of raiders entered

Missouri, looting and burning

farms and villages.

The most notorious leader

of the pro-Southern raiders was

William Quantrill. He led a raid on

Olathe, Kansas, on Sept. 2, 1862.

In June 1861, only a few months after the war started, Kansas City was occupied by 200 federal soldiers. They were stationed at Camp Union, below.

In late October 1864, Price’s

troops pushed through Indepen-

dance, drove Union defenders

back from the Blue River and on

Oct. 22 camped south of Brush

Creek, across from Westport. The

morning of Oct. 23 the Confed-

erates attacked, but the Union

forces held and drove the Con-

federates back. When reports

arrived that other Union forces

were attacking from the east,

BATTLE OF WESTPORT

Abour 10,000 Confederate tropps entered Missouri from

Arkansas in late summer 1864. Their commander, General

Sterling Price, aimed to attack Union forces in St. Louis. He

hoped that this would draw the Union’s attention from the

Civil War in Virginia and so help General Robert E. Lee’s

forces there. Price attacked a Union stronghold in southeast

Missouri, Pilot Knob, but the federal defenders escaped.

He advanced north toward St. Louis but found the city too

strongly defended by Union troops. Then he headed west.

After being repulsed by Union troops at Jefferson City,

Price aimed to attack Kansas City and Fort Leavenworth.

Meanwhile, Union forces chased him from behind.

FIGHTING IN KC

21

WARWAR

HARD TIMES AS THE WAR WEARS ON

HARD TIMES AS THE WAR WEARS ON

CHAPTER REVIEW

Q.Who is the man shown in the painting in the

bottom left corner? What was his stand on the

slavery issue?

Look at the illustration of Kansas City’s riverfront

shown on the right page. How many types of

transportation do you see?

Why did Kansas City’s growth and prosperity

suffer during the Civil War?

A.1. John Brown. He was opposed to slavery. 2. Walking, horsedrawn wagons, oar-driven boats and steamboats. 3. Pro-union and pro-Confederate gangs roamed the area, intimidating residents and creating fear for travelers and shippers. Also, the city feared attack by the Confederate Army. Small wonder that few people wanted to move to or trade with Kansas City.

Historic home of John Wornall:

John Wornall House Museum

146 W. 61st Terrace, Kansas City

Alexander Majors House:

Majors’ Historical House

8201 State Line Road, Kansas City

PLACES TO VISIT

WHAT ELSE WAS GOING ON BETWEEN 1854-1865?Presidents: Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln

Walt Whitman published a book of 12 poems, Leaves of Grass

Henry Bessemer (below) invented a process allowing mass production of steel

Adventurer William Walker conquered Nicaragua

Dred Scott Supreme Court Decision: decided the federal government had no power to regulate slavery in the territories, and that people of African descent (both slave and free) were not protected by the Constitution and were there-fore, not U.S. citizens

Oregon was admitted as a State

Lincoln was shot on April 14 and died the next day

54/56/60

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56

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57

59

64

TIME TRAVEL

25

Above, the Kansas City Chiefs walk off the field after a loss in the first Super Bowl (January 1967). In 1960 Lamar Hunt helped establish the American Football League and moved his team from Dallas to KC. Also new to the KC entertainment scene were the Royals, who be-gan playing at Municipal Stadium on April 8, 1969. Before Kauffman took over the team, in 1967 the Beatles came through town.

BASEBALL, THE SUPERBOWL AND THE BEATLES

ALL DESCENDED UPON KANSAS CITY

POP CULTURE BOOMIn turbulent times Kansas City begins

a new effort to reshape its image and

identity. City leaders tour the United

States, speaking to officials and to

news reporters in cities such as New

York, Cleveland, Chicago, and Los An-

geles. Kansas City, they announce, is

in its Prime Time. The phrase “prime

time” is ordinarily used to mean the

evening hours when most people

watch television. It is the prime time

for advertising. Kansas City’s Prime

Time campaign is intended to make

the same point. City leaders boast of

new development and a new spirit of

progress that are making Kansas City

a modern, attractive place to live.

New public buildings spring up

downtown and on the city’s boundar-

ies. Kansas City builds a new interna-

tional airport, new sports stadiums

and a modern convention center, and

a major downtown redevelopment

project gets under way. Kansas City,

Prime Time declares, is now a first

class city.

In 1960, Arnold Johnson, the

man who had brought the Athletics

19641979

baseball team to Kansas City, died of

a stroke. The team was bought by a

Chicago millionaire insurance man,

Charles O. Finley.

The new owner promised great

things for the team, but he kept few

of his promises. For example, Finley

said he would soon move his fam-

ily to Kansas City. However, in 1967

Finley moved the team to Oakland,

Calif. Finley had gone through seven

team managers in those seven years

in Kansas City.

After the 1967 season, major-

league baseball owners promised that

Kansas City could have a new team

in 1971. The new owner of the team

would be a local man and soon to be

local hero, Ewing M. Kauffman.

At the same time that O. Finley

was baffling and embarassing many

Kansas Citians, he was experimenting

with his baseball team. He tried many

tricks to make more fans come to the

ballpark. Finley brought the Beatles

to Kansas City. At the time the band

was the hottest rock ‘n’ roll group in

the world and was touring America.

What did that have to do with base-

ball attendance? Finley’s theory was

that “today’s Beatles fans” would

become “tomorrow’s baseball fans.”

We’ll never know whether his

theory was correct. He paid $150,000

for a 31-minute concert. About

20,000 were in the audience that

night. Fewer than half the available

seats were filled.

Ewing Kauffman and his wife are treasured figures in Kansas City because of their

help in revitalizing the city with the Royals.

Kansas City had approved a law prohibiting discrimination by hotels and eating places in 1960. After being challenged in court, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the law in 1962. Other businesses continued to discriminate.

STRIVING FOR EQUALITY

SOCIAL CHANGE

In the late 1960s, many demonstrators made their point using peacful means.

Inspired by successes of civil rights protesters, young people began to protest conditions they didn’t like.

Economic disparity and social inequality. The Black Panther party and oth-

er groups that were consideredradical shocked middle-class Kansas City.

Restrictions on their conduct and course work by schools. Many objected

to dress codes and to closing hours for dormitories, particularly for wom-

en. Others called for schools to offer courses in black and women studies.

Discrimination, not only against black people, but alsoagainst women, His-

panics and Native Americans.

The draft. This was a nationwide system in which men who reached 18

signed up with the government. Unless they could get an exemption, the

armed services could “draft” them to fight.

91

BUILDING UP

KANSAS CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CROWN CENTER

Opened: Fall 1972

In 1966, Kansas City voters ap-

proved Mid-Continent International

Airport. It was to be constructed

on land recently annexed by Kan-

sas City in Platte County.

Opened: 1973

Hallmark Cards led the way in the

construction of Crown Center. The

project sprawled across an area

once known as Signboard Hill. Hall-

mark wanted to make a new city

within a city.

NEW BUILDINGS TODAYKansas City is currently in the process of reener-

gizing the city again. New buildings like the Sprint

Center and the Power and Light district are new,

exciting draws for tourists.

BARTLE HALL HARRY S. TRUMAN SPORTS COMPLEX

Opened: 1976

The areas biggest meeting hall was

named for Kansas City’s mayor from

1955 to 1963, H. Roe Bartle. The hall

was used for conventions, auto shows,

boat shows and other displays.

Opened: 1972

The complex was a project of

Jackson County, not Kansas City,

because Jackson County could

more readily provide money. The

project was approved by voters

in 1967. The Chiefs played its first

season in Arrowhead in 1972, while

the Royals began playing in 1973.

95

THE KANSAS CITY STORY FOR KIDS

Dodd/Serda

THE KANSAS CITY STORY FOR KIDS

THE KANSAS CITY STORY FOR KIDSMonroe Dodd Daniel Serda

Dodd/Serda