What was the primary purpose of the New England Emigrant Aid Company?

The primary purpose of the New England Emigrant Aid Company was to support the establishment of Kansas as a free state. Founded in 1854, the organization was a response to the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed settlers in those territories to decide whether they would permit slavery. The company aimed to send free-state supporters, primarily from New England, to Kansas to ensure that the new territory would be settled by anti-slavery individuals. This effort was part of a broader struggle known as "Bleeding Kansas," which involved violent conflicts over the issue of slavery in the area. By establishing a strong free-state presence in Kansas, the New England Emigrant Aid Company hoped to influence the outcome of the territorial legislature and promote anti-slavery principles in the region.