Final answer:
The first territorial legislature meeting in Kansas led to violent clashes between proslavery and antislavery factions during the period known as Bleeding Kansas, with attempts to suppress antislavery sentiment and the controversial Lecompton Constitution highlighting the strife.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first territorial legislature meeting in Kansas is best described by violent clashes between proslavery and antislavery factions. This period, known as Bleeding Kansas, was marked by fraudulent elections and confrontations over whether Kansas would be a slave or a free state. The territorial legislature, controlled by proslavery delegates, met with significant resistance from Free Soilers and eventually passed laws to suppress the antislavery sentiment. One such law criminalized the expression of antislavery statements, illustrating the lengths to which the proslavery faction went to assert their power. The controversial Lecompton Constitution, which was designed to make Kansas a slave state, further heightened tensions. Southerners tried to push through the Lecompton Constitution, which was eventually rejected by Kansas voters, showcasing the deep divisions and struggles for control within the territory.