Stephan Douglas believed that

Answer 1

Stephen Douglas believed in the principle of popular sovereignty, which posited that the residents of a territory should have the right to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery. This approach aimed to resolve the contentious issue of slavery's expansion into new states and territories. Douglas's stance was a significant factor in the debates surrounding the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which ultimately led to increased tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States. His views reflected a broader commitment to democracy and local governance, though they often deepened national divisions over slavery.