What is the name given to the small civil war fought over slavery in Kansas following the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

The term "Bleeding Kansas" refers specifically to the violent confrontations that occurred in Kansas between 1854 and 1859, following the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This act allowed the residents of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders, which led to a significant influx of both pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers. The resulting tensions resulted in widespread violence and conflict, as both sides sought to influence the decision on slavery in Kansas.

The name "Bleeding Kansas" captures the essence of this period marked by battles, skirmishes, and even atrocities committed by both factions, as they rushed to establish a foothold in the territory. This civil unrest was a precursor to the larger national conflict that would erupt into the American Civil War. The other options, while significant events in American history, do not pertain to this specific conflict over slavery in Kansas: Shays' Rebellion was an uprising against economic injustices in Massachusetts, John Brown's Raid involved an attempt to incite a slave revolt, and the Whiskey Rebellion was against a tax on whiskey.