the political process that led to statehood for kansas was long and difficult. to become a state, kansas had to give an acceptable constitution to the u.s. congress. kansas tried to become a state four times. they had four different constitutions given. this was more than any other state territory. missourians, because they were so close, went across the border to vote on the first state constitution. the fact they were not kansas residents did not stop them from stuffing the ballot boxes. with their help, pro-slavery candidates were elected to the constitutional convention. what came to be called the "bogus legislature" met on july 2, 1855. among the laws passed by the bogus legislature were the death penalty for anyone setting slaves free or for saying or writing anything that might cause a slave rebellion. citizens of kansas who had talked about any anti-slavery ideas were not allowed to be jurors. the convention did everything it could to make anyone with anti-slavery sentiments leave kansas. anti-slavery abolitionists met on june 24, 1855. they rejected the bogus legislature's laws and constitution.