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Kansas-Nebraska Act
Acts, Bills, and Laws, 1854
The Great Plains area west of Missouri and Iowa was a refuge for thousands of Native Americans, but white settlers learned that these vast expanses offered opportunities for farming and ranching. The natives had no effective champions and would again be forced to give way to the whites' encroachment.
Stephen A. Douglas, the Democratic senator from Illinois and chairman of the Committee on Territories, introduced a bill in early 1854, dealing with these unorganized lands. Douglas was anxious to see the region developed. Part of his motivation was personal gain — he was a heavy speculator in western lands and also, as a resident of Chicago, supportive of the development of the central route for a transcontinental railroad. Further, an exposure on the national stage might be helpful to his considerable presidential ambitions.
Under the provisions of the Missouri Compromise (1820), the lands of the Louisiana Purchase north of 36˚30’ north latitude were to be free of slavery (except for Missouri itself).
Douglas’ bill succeeded in luring Southern politicians with the following provisions:
The Nebraska Territory was to be divided into two units — Kansas and Nebraska
The question of slavery, which had seemingly been answered, was to be decided by "popular sovereignty"—allowing the territorial legislatures to decide.
The effect of this proposal was to repeal the Missouri Compromise, a prospect that enraged antislavery forces and most Northerners. Not content, the Southern leaders insisted on a formal amendment which specifically repealed the slavery provisions of the compromise.
A bitter debate followed in Congress, culminating in May 1854 in a narrow victory for Douglas and the South. President Franklin Pierce signed the measure immediately.
The passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act exerted a tremendous impact, which included:
The reopening of the slavery question in the territories with almost immediate tragic results in “Bleeding Kansas”
The president's hope for reelection dashed
The complete realignment of the major political parties
The Democrats lost influence in the North and were to become the regional proslavery party of the South
The Whig Party, which had opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, died in the South and was weakened in the North
A new Republican Party emerged as an immediate political force, drawing in anti-Nebraska Whigs and Democrats.
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Kansas-Nebraska Act The Kansas-Nebraska Act also led to "Bleeding Kansas," a mini civil war that erupted in Kansas in 1856. Northerners and Southerners flooded Kansas in 1854 and 1855, determined to convert the future state to their view on slavery.Kansas-Nebraska Act also led to "Bleeding Kansas," a mini civil war that erupted in Kansas in 1856. Northerners and Southerners flooded Kansas in 1854 and 1855, determined to convert the future state to their view on slavery. To ensure that ... http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=1476
The Kansas-Nebraska Act The Kansas-Nebraska Act The Kansas-Nebraska act repeal of the ban on slavery in Northern territories galvanized angry opposition. All over the North "anti-Nebraska" rallies took place in the summer of 1854, leading to the fKansas-Nebraska Act The Kansas-Nebraska act repeal of the ban on slavery in Northern territories galvanized angry opposition. All over the North "anti-Nebraska" rallies took place in the summer of 1854, leading to the fKansas-Nebraska act repeal of the ban on slavery in Northern territories galvanized angry opposition. All over the North "anti-Nebraska" rallies took place in the summer of 1854, leading to the formation of the ... http://www.civilwarhome.com/kansasnebraska.htm
The History Place - Kansas-Nebraska Act The Kansas-Nebraska Act The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed by the U.S. Congress on May 30, 1854. It allowed people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their bKansas-Nebraska Act The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed by the U.S. Congress on May 30, 1854. It allowed people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their bKansas-Nebraska Act was passed by the U.S. Congress on May 30, 1854. It allowed people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders. The Act ... http://www.historyplace.com/lincoln/kansas.htm
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