The Sack of Lawrence occurred on May 21, 1856, in the town of Lawrence, Kansas. This event was part of the larger conflict known as Bleeding Kansas, which involved violent confrontations between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions. A group of pro-slavery supporters attacked the town, destroying property and looting businesses, as Lawrence was a stronghold for anti-slavery settlers. The attack was fueled by tensions over whether Kansas would enter the Union as a free or slave state. The Free-State movement, which opposed slavery, had established Lawrence as a center for their cause. The Sack of Lawrence intensified the conflict, leading to further violence in the region.