The Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, proposed by Stephen A. Douglas, allowed white male settlers from the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to determine whether slavery was or was not permitted within their boarders which overturned the Missouri Compromise for 1820 as they laid north of the 36° 30’ parallel where slavery was outlawed. The issue of slavery was decided by the residents of each territory known as popular sovereignty.
The act wanted to allow Kansas as a slave state but Nebraska as a free state in the Union which created a greater struggle for control of the western territory.
Pro-slavery and anti-slavery supporters travelld to Kansas after the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed to affect the results of the first election. Pro-slavery supporters held the first election but were charged with fraud and the results were not accepted. After this, anti-slavery settlers refused to vote when another election was held and therefore this led to the formation of two opposing houses in Kansas. Kansas was given the nickname "Bleeding Kansas" as violence erupted and the death toll rose. Another electron was held and was again charged with fraud so Congress refused to Kansas becoming a state. In the course of time, the anti-slavery faction outnumbered the pro-slavery faction and a new constitution was made on January 29, 18861 that entitled Kansas as free state to the Union.
Slave-holders in Missouri did not want Nebraska to become a free territory as they were afraid their slaves would flee to it. Many slaves fled to Kansas as it was now a free state.
The new anti-slavery Wyandontte Constitution was created and both Kansas and Nebraska was admitted to the Union. By then the Civil War had ended and slavery was outlawed throughout the United States. Therefore, the Kansas-Nebraska Act had a important impact on the lives of slaves to a great extent as it led to the Civil War and ended slavery. As a result of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Republican party was formed and was founded by the opponents of the bill.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act did have a significant impact on the history of slavery as it solved a lot of issue associated with slavery in the Civil War which helped free slaves and change the minds of the general public of the United States about slavery.
Reynolds’s Political Map of the United States, ca. 1856
This map shows the line drawn by the Missouri Compromise north of which slavery was banned with the exception of Missouri. The Kansas-Nebraska Act, which authorised citizens of those territories to decide the issue of slavery for themselves, abolished part of the Missouri Compromise since Kansas was above that line.
The act wanted to allow Kansas as a slave state but Nebraska as a free state in the Union which created a greater struggle for control of the western territory.
Pro-slavery and anti-slavery supporters travelld to Kansas after the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed to affect the results of the first election. Pro-slavery supporters held the first election but were charged with fraud and the results were not accepted. After this, anti-slavery settlers refused to vote when another election was held and therefore this led to the formation of two opposing houses in Kansas. Kansas was given the nickname "Bleeding Kansas" as violence erupted and the death toll rose. Another electron was held and was again charged with fraud so Congress refused to Kansas becoming a state. In the course of time, the anti-slavery faction outnumbered the pro-slavery faction and a new constitution was made on January 29, 18861 that entitled Kansas as free state to the Union.
Slave-holders in Missouri did not want Nebraska to become a free territory as they were afraid their slaves would flee to it. Many slaves fled to Kansas as it was now a free state.
The new anti-slavery Wyandontte Constitution was created and both Kansas and Nebraska was admitted to the Union. By then the Civil War had ended and slavery was outlawed throughout the United States. Therefore, the Kansas-Nebraska Act had a important impact on the lives of slaves to a great extent as it led to the Civil War and ended slavery. As a result of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Republican party was formed and was founded by the opponents of the bill.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act did have a significant impact on the history of slavery as it solved a lot of issue associated with slavery in the Civil War which helped free slaves and change the minds of the general public of the United States about slavery.
Reynolds’s Political Map of the United States, ca. 1856
This map shows the line drawn by the Missouri Compromise north of which slavery was banned with the exception of Missouri. The Kansas-Nebraska Act, which authorised citizens of those territories to decide the issue of slavery for themselves, abolished part of the Missouri Compromise since Kansas was above that line.