during the long debate before the passage of the kansas-nebraska act, planning had already started for emigrants from the free states to settle in the territory. the largest organization created for this purpose was the new england emigrant aid company, organized by eli thayer. emigration from the free states, including new england, iowa, ohio, and other midwestern states, flowed into the territory beginning in 1854. these emigrants were known as free-staters. because missourians had claimed much of the land closest to the border, the free-staters were forced to establish settlements further into kansas territory. among these were lawrence, topeka, and manhattan.