Transcript Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 Declared the Missouri Compromise

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Kansas-Nebraska
Act
1854
Setting the Stage
• After the admission of
California, the United States
wanted to build a
transcontinental railroad
linking the west with the east.
• It, therefore, became
necessary to organize
previously unorganized
territory west of Missouri and
Iowa.
United States prior to
1854
• Both northern and
southern interests competed
to secure the location in
their sections
• The powerful Senator
Stephen Douglas of Illinois,
Chairman of the
Committee on Territories,
sought federal approval of
Chicago (or some other
northwestern city) as the
eastern terminus
Stephen Arnold
Douglas
Little Giant
• Douglas reasoned that the
settlement of the Nebraska
region would stimulate
population growth, thus,
justifying a northern route
across the Great Plains
ISSUES
1. North would favor a
northern
transcontinental route,
but would be concerned
about how the western
territory would be
organized
2. South would require a
greater reason to warrant
forgoing power of the
transcontinental railroad,
other than for population
growth
The Douglas Solution:
Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854
• Declared the Missouri
Compromise null and void
• Created two territories
1. Kansas
2. Nebraska
• Slavery in new territories
would be decided by
popular sovereignty
1854 Map
Result:
Bleeding Kansas
• Immediately, proslavery and
antislavery forces recruited and
even armed settlers and less
permanent representatives in
an effort to gain control of the
Kansas territory
The vote for a legislature took
place in 1855
• Over 6000 votes were cast (no
more than 1500 were actually
eligible)
• Missouri sent over
proslavery “Border
Ruffians” to vote illegally
• As a result, the proslavery
group was able to elect a
majority of the territorial
legislature and establish a
government based on the
legalization of slavery
• In response, free-soil
advocates held a
convention and framed a
constitution barring slavery
• Although President Pierce
supported the elected
proslavery group, the
situation led to the
establishment of two
governments within Kansas
and a civil war within that
territory
• Proslavery attack on Lawrence
• Preston Brooks canes Charles
Sumner
• Pottawatomie Massacre
John Brown in a
daguerreotype by Augustus
Washington
1856 illustration by
Winslow Homer
“Arguments of the
Chivalry”
Political cartoon of
Preston Brooks caning
Charles Sumner