What happened on May 22 1856?

800 slavery supporters attacked the town of Lawrence in Kansas, a stronghold of antislavery settlers. The attackers burned the Free State Hotel and destroyed two newspaper offices and many homes. Soon after, antislavery forces retaliated.

John Brown,a fervent abolitionist, believed God chose hom to end slavery. The attck on Lawrence enraged Brown. he vowed to "Strike terror in the hearts of the pro-slavery people." One night Brown led a a group along Pottawatomie Creek where he seized and killed five supporters of slavery.