Plantation owners were outraged that slavery had been outlawed in the territories.
People in the territories were angry that a new political party had been established.
Many Americans disagreed with the Supreme Court decision to limit slavery in the territories.
Opposing forces clashed because they disagreed about popular sovereignty and slavery.
For expanding nations.
For expanding nations.
He proposed a bill that divided the land west of Missouri into two territories, Kansas and Nebraska.
the Nebraska territory would open up and be divided into 2 states: nebraska and Kansas. originally, nebraska would have been the free state and kansas the slave state BUT nebraska and kansas would be decided by popular sovereignty
popular sovereignty
Douglas was trying to work out a plan for the nation to expand that both the North and South would accept. This was the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. But the concept of popular sovereignty led to armed conflict over the issue of slavery in Kansas.
the nebraska territory would open up and be divided into 2 states: nebraska and kansas. originally, nebraska would have been the free state and kansas the slave state BUT nebraska and kansas would be decided by popular sovereignty
Douglas wanted to abandon the Missouri Compromise because he wanted to put in place his own Kansas- Nebraska Act. This act would expand railroads and allow territories to choose for themselves if they wanted to be free or slave states.
Stephen Douglas probably proposed such a plan mentioned above because of the concept of popular sovereignty where the people who reside in a territory that might become a state at a later date could decide for themselves whether they wanted slavery or not. This was 'democracy' in action that sounded good in theory but would have tragic consequences later when it was implemented in Kansas.
Stephen A. Douglas proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 to gain support from southern Democrats. The act allowed the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery through popular sovereignty. This appeal to southern interests aimed to foster unity within the Democratic Party by addressing their desire for the expansion of slavery into new territories, thereby gaining their support in the political landscape of the time.
Stephen Douglas proposed abandoning the Missouri Compromise in order to facilitate the creation of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which aimed to allow settlers in those territories to decide the issue of slavery through popular sovereignty. He believed that this approach would promote westward expansion and economic development. Douglas also sought to gain Southern support for his plans and to unify the Democratic Party, which was becoming increasingly divided over the issue of slavery. Ultimately, his proposal was controversial and led to significant conflict, including violent confrontations known as "Bleeding Kansas."
Senator Douglas thought that a local vote - or 'popular sovereignty' - would be a better way of deciding for or against slavery in the new States.