USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Jayhawkers is a term that came into use just before the American Civil War in Bleeding Kansas . It was adopted by militant bands of Free-Staters. These bands, known as “Jayhawkers", were guerrilla fighters who often clashed with pro-slavery groups from Missouri known at the time as “Border Ruffians".

Detailed explanation-2: -Before the start of the Civil War, the name “jayhawkers” applied to bands of robbers, associated with the Kansas Free-Stater cause, who rustled livestock and stole property on both sides of the state line.

Detailed explanation-3: -Plunderers and militant abolitionists were referred to as “Jayhawkers” or “Red Legs” and both were used as terms of derision towards those from Kansas after the Civil War. The term “Jayhawk” has evolved over the years to a term of pride used by some Kansans.

Detailed explanation-4: -The name combines two birds–the blue jay, a noisy, quarrelsome thing known to rob other nests, and the sparrow hawk, a quiet, stealthy hunter. The message here: Don’t turn your back on this bird. During the 1850’s, the Kansas Territory was filled with such Jayhawks.

Detailed explanation-5: -The term “bushwacker” applied to those who swore no allegiance to either side and often united into bands of outlaws preying on both sides. The term “jayhawker” once applied to predatory bands in Kansas, but through common usage came to be applied to anyone doing looting.