some free-staters were abolitionists from new england. other free-staters were abolitionists who came to kansas territory from ohio, iowa, and other midwestern states. however, the majority of free-staters, regardless of where they were from, did not claim to be abolitionists at the beginning. instead, the official free-state line supported the idea of excluding "all" black people from the state of kansas. while they didn't have slaves themselves most were prejudiced against black people believing the popular idea they were inferior. most of the settlers seemed to want free soil for white people only.