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Step 1: Read the comic.
Step 1: Read the comic.
Step 2: Watch the video
Step 2: Watch the video
Step 3: Read the text then answer the response questions.
Step 3: Read the text then answer the response questions.
In January 1854, Senator Stephen Douglas introduced a new law, the Kansas-Nebraska Act that divided the land west of Missouri into two territories, Kansas and Nebraska. Douglas proposed that the settlers of the new territories be allowed to vote and decide if slavery would be allowed there. This is known as popular sovereignty (giving the people the power through voting).
1. How would slavery be decided in these territories? What principle of the Constitution is this based on?
Anti-slavery supporters were outraged because, under the terms of the Missouri Compromise of 1820, slavery would have been illegal in both territories since they were above the 36º 30' line.
After months of debate, the Kansas-Nebraska Act passed on May 30, 1854. Pro-slavery and anti-slavery Americans rushed to Kansas, hoping to determine the results of the first election held after the law went into effect. The conflict turned violent, and from 1854 to 1859, political and physical confrontations broke out in a period known as "Bleeding Kansas". 56 people died during this time; 5 of these pro-slavery men were killed by John Brown and his supporters (You'll hear more about John Brown later!) Following the Kansas-Nebraska Act those who opposed (were against) the spread of slavery into the territories helped create the Republican Party. Tensions over slavery would continue to grow between the North and South.
2. Describe what took place after the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed? What was this period of fighting known as?
3. What political party was founded as a result of the Kansas-Nebraska Act AND what did they want to do regarding slavery?
The Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed (canceled) the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and now allowed for the possibility of slavery by vote above the 36 30' line-slavery was no longer banned in that area! Oh no!
4. What did the new law, the Kansas-Nebraska Act do to the previous law, in the Missouri Compromise?
5. Thinking about the Missouri Compromise in 1820, why would anti-slavery supporters be upset about the Kansas Nebraska Act?
John Brown
Have you ever heard the story about the Senator, Charles Sumner who was beaten unconsciousness with a cane after speaking out in Congress against allowing slavery in Kansas?
Have you ever heard the story about the Senator, Charles Sumner who was beaten unconsciousness with a cane after speaking out in Congress against allowing slavery in Kansas?
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