On November 8, Charles Curtis of Kansas becomes the first person of Native American ancestry to be elected to Congress. Curtis will serve in the House of Representatives until 1906 when he is elected to the Senate where he will serve until 1929. On November 7, 1928, Curtis is elected Vice President of the U.S., when his running mate, Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover is elected President.

"Bleeding Kansas," the violent conflict between pro- and anti-slavery forces begins on November 21 with the death of a free-soiler by a pro-slavery advocate. The violence will continue until 1859 and result in the death of 56 people.