Was the South angry about the Pottawatomie Massacre?

Question

Were they angry?

Answer 1

Very likely, or at least the pro-slavery group would have been.

Since the conflict arose over slavery in what became the state of Kansas, this would be a reaction to be expected.

Many of the earliest settlers in Kansas were slaveholders, or at least pro-slavery, from Missouri. They were hoping to populate the territory with people who would work to make Kansas, when it was finally admitted to the Union, a slave state.

The expression "Bleeding (or 'Bloody') Kansas arose from the conflict between the pro-slavery faction and those settlers who were equally determined that Kansas would be admitted as a free state.

When pro-slavery forces sacked the town of Lawrence, Kansas in April of 1856, burning newspaper offices, a hotel, and private homes, the pro-slavery press hailed the event as if it were some great victory for those who wanted Kansas to be a slave state.

The Pottawatomie Massacre, in May of the same year, was led by John Brown (yes, the same one of Harper's Ferry and "John Brown's Body" fame) and resulted in five pro-slavery fatalities and, as one might guess, an escalation in hostilities between the two factions.

Answer 2

Yeah they were ticked off but the one that really got them hopping mad was the Pottyalloverme Massacre!