in 1854, the kansas–nebraska act created the territory of kansas. in 1855, douglas county was established. douglas county was opened for settlement on may 15, 1854. it was named for stephen a. douglas. the county was practically at the center of the bleeding kansas years as leaders in lecompton, the territorial capital, wanted kansas to be a slave state. leaders in lawrence wanted kansas to be a free state. a number of events took place in douglas county. these including the drafting of the controversial lecompton constitution (attempting to admit kansas as a slave state), the sacking of lawrence, and the battle of black jack.