The policy of popular sovereignty brought about fierce competition between the anti - and pro-slavery forces in the Kansas Territory. The pro-slavery forces brought in residents of nearby Missouri to illegally vote to sway Kansas politics. These illegal voters were known as "border ruffians." The illegal activity did not stop with politics; the border ruffians engaged in intimidation and violence against anti-slavery settlers. What could have been done to stop the illegal voting? What about the violence?

Answer: Residency requirements could have been put in place-a person must be a long-term resident of Kansas to vote.

Federal troops could have been stationed in Kansas to stop violence and intimidation.

Federal officials could have been brought in to try and ensure the fairness of elections.

The illegal voting would have been stopped or a least greatly reduced with the implementation of proper voter registration and state IDs. Of course, with the rudimentary technology of the era, falsification of ID documents would have been relatively easier than it is today. However IDs and voter registration would have presented an additional obstacle to border ruffians.

The violence would only have been stopped by the concourse of a national guard, a state police and civil deputies from the state protecting voter, voting locations and the transportation of ballots.