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Constitution Hall-Topeka is a nationally important historic building dating from the Kansas Territorial era, 1854-1861. It is a two-story and basement building begun in April 1855 by Loring and John Farnsworth. They planned the building for commerce but unable to proceed by June, arranged with the Topeka Town Association to complete the building in exchange for hosting the first Kansas constitutional convention. The building was sufficiently complete for convention occupancy in the fall. Construction resumed in early 1856 and was finished by winter.

Topeka, Kansas

opposed to introducing slavery into Kansas Territory met in what became the Topeka Constitutional Convention. The convention opened October 23, 1855.

Almost forty delegates met, and they all opposed slavery and the southern element in Kansas. At the time, the southerners controlled the legal government of the territory. While it was legal, it committed many illegal acts. The element controlled by the northern immigrants into Kansas set up their own government, which had no legal standing.

A constitution was written, but it failed to be adopted. It was called the Topeka Constitution. This constitution passed in the United States House of Representatives in July 1856, but failed in the US Senate by two votes. Parts of it became part of the eventual Kansas state constitution in 1861.

Constitution Hall became the meeting place of the northern element's government and legislature. This legislature drew the wrath of the southerners in Congress, who asked President Franklin Pierce to intervene. Pierce was a southerner. Federal troops, led by Col. Edwin V. Sumner, were called in July 1856 to disperse the Topeka legislature. On July 4, the troops arrived at Constitution Hall. Facing soldiers with rifles, bayonets and a cannon, the members of the Topeka legislature were forced to disperse.

Constitution Hall continued to serve as the capital of the northern element. Sometimes supplies seized in southern communities were kept in the basement of the building. By the early 1860s buildings were built to the north and south of Constitution Hall and they were attached to it, thus making Constitution one of a row of buildings on the block. Topeka became the state capital of Kansas when the State was admitted to the Union in 1861.