▁of ▁both ▁the ▁n ativ ist ▁American ▁( or ▁' K now - Nothing ') ▁Party ▁and ▁the ▁Free ▁So il ▁Party , ▁served ▁a ▁term ▁as ▁Spe aker ▁before ▁Democr ats ▁won ▁control ▁of ▁the ▁chamber ▁in ▁the ▁ 3 5 th ▁Congress ." ▁ ▁January ▁ 2 4 , ▁ 1 8 5 6 : ▁President ▁Franklin ▁Pier ce ▁declared ▁the ▁new ▁Free - State ▁To pe ka ▁government ▁in ▁Ble eding ▁Kansas ▁to ▁be ▁in ▁re bell ion . ▁ ▁January ▁ 2 6 , ▁ 1 8 5 6 : ▁First ▁Battle ▁of ▁Seattle : ▁Mar ines ▁from ▁the ▁USS ▁Dec atur ▁drove ▁off ▁Indian ▁attack ers ▁after ▁an ▁all - day ▁battle ▁with ▁sett lers . ▁ ▁February , ▁ 1 8 5 6 : ▁T int ic ▁War ▁broke ▁out ▁in ▁Ut ah ▁ ▁February ▁ 1 8 , ▁ 1 8 5 6 : ▁The ▁American ▁Party ▁( K now - N oth ings ) ▁nominated ▁their ▁first ▁President ial ▁candidate , ▁former ▁President ▁Mill ard ▁F ill more . ▁ ▁May ▁ 2 1 , ▁ 1 8 5 6 : ▁Lawrence , ▁Kansas , ▁captured ▁and ▁burn ed ▁by ▁pro - s la very ▁forces ▁( the ▁" S ack ing ▁of ▁Lawrence "). ▁ ▁May ▁ 2 2 , ▁ 1 8 5 6 : ▁Represent ative ▁Pr eston ▁Bro oks ▁of ▁South ▁Carolina ▁attack ing ▁Senator ▁Charles ▁Sum ner , ▁be ating ▁him ▁with ▁a ▁can e ▁in ▁the ▁hall ▁of ▁the