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Jump Start. Define popular sovereignty (Hint: think back to the Constitution) In the Compromise of 1850, popular sovereignty was used to decide if a territory from the newly gained Mexican lands would be slave or free state.
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Jump Start • Define popular sovereignty (Hint: think back to the Constitution) In the Compromise of 1850, popular sovereignty was used to decide if a territory from the newly gained Mexican lands would be slave or free state. 2. How does this piece of the Compromise go against the Missouri Compromise?
Enter Stephen Douglas • Congressman who based his politics on expansion and popular sovereignty • Popular sovereignty: people decided whether or not slavery will be allowed in a territory based on a vote • He opposes expansion of slavery but he does not admit that it is evil • Douglas argues that slavery cannot logically expand in the southwest (climate)
Kansas Nebraska Act (1854) • Douglas wants a railroad through Nebraska Territory but Southern congressmen are against it • Wanted the railroad in the south to benefit them • To pass his idea Douglas suggests dividing Nebraska Territory into 2 • Nebraska and Kansas • Popular sovereignty will decide if these new states will be slave or free • Goes against the Missouri Compromise’s (1820) ban on keeping slavery below the 36 30’ line • Southerners accepted the deal and repealed the Missouri Compromise in favor of the Kansas-Nebraska Act
Bleeding Kansas, 1855 • Voters will decide if Kansas will be a free or slave state • Abolitionists and proslavery supporters rush to occupy Kansas in order to gain a majority • 1855: Proslavery supporters gained the majority at the time of election • 5,000 Missourians came in and voted illegally • The Kansas legislature was now packed with pro-slavery representatives
Bleeding Kansas, 1855 • Abolitionists elect their own anti-slavery legislature in Topeka • Boycotted the official government • Both sides began to arm themselves for conflict • Sack of Lawrence: proslavery mob attacks seat of Abolitionist government • Angry abolitionist John Brown and his sons decided to avenge the Sack of Lawrence • Hacked 5 proslavery men in front of their families at Pottawatomie Creek, Kansas • Civil war broke out in Kansas and continued for 3 years • Known as Bleeding Kansas
The Rise of New Political Parties The “Know Nothing” Party Republican Party Grew out of problems dealing with the Kansas-Nebraska Act All members are located from the north They want to keep slavery from expanding into near the west They fear slavery will replace free white labor because slaves are not paid • Nativist party • They are anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic, dislike Blacks, and support slavery • Disappeared quickly as a national party • Northern and Southern branches could agree on the issue of slavery