Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - History Other kansasNebraska act kansasNebraska act The Kansas-Nebraska act (1854) was a U.S. law that authorized the creation of Kansas and Nebraska, west of the states of Missouri and Iowa and divided by the 40th parallel. It repealed a provision of the Missouri compromise of 1820 that prohibited slavery in the territories north of 36 degrees and 30’ and stipulated that the inhabitant of the territories should decide for themselves the legality of slave holding. Democratic senator of Illinois Stephen A. Douglas pushed the Kansas-Nebraska bill. In Garranty’s The American Nation shows evidence that Douglas had a great political interest in the passing of this bill because he also served as the director of Illinois central line. Therefore, it would have been in his best interest for the transcontinental railroad to pass through the northern states or to be exact through Chicago. The facts show that Douglas, “To win over the southerners Douglas agreed to divide the region into two territories, Kansas and Nebraska, and then fateful concession to repeal the part of the Missouri compromise that excluded slavery from land north of 36 degrees 30’.”(Garraty pg.402) This move could be of great help to him, because if he should seek election for president in the future he would have the support of the south. Muzzey author of The American Adventure also shows evidence that the Kansas-Nebraska bill was “ a bid for southern support in the next democratic convention.” (Muzzey pg.485) In 1852 Douglas sought for presidential nomination but had only the support of the north, and it was necessary in those days for candidate to win southern support in order to gain the presidency or nomination [nomination for the presidency].”(Elson pg. 573) With the issue of this bill Douglas saw his chance. Douglas “baited this bill for Southern votes by incorporating the principle of popular sovereignty. At the insistence of Southern leaders, he made clear that his bill would render the Missouri compromise inoperative and void. Furthermore, the bill, as amended divided the region into two distinct territories. Douglas miscalculated grievously. He thought that reopening the slavery question would be a minor matter, even though he opposed slavery.”(Morrison pg. 586) Morrison shows in this statement that raising the issue of slavery once again was no big thing for Douglas. He disregarded his beliefs over issues of slavery to get his billed passed. Theirs evidence of Douglas interest to obtain southern support even on Basset’s Short History of The United States. “[Douglas] favored a new territory in the region through which the proposed Pacific road would run, and he may have adopted Atchison’s idea because he saw it was the only way to get the support of the southerners.”(Basset pg.487) Most sources used showed evidence of motives why Douglas pushed this bill and had it passed and they all are similar in the way that they all thought Douglas was out to get the support of the Southerners for when his nomination for presidency came up. With the exception of Beard he had no evidence that insinuated that Douglas wanted the southern support. Douglas pushed the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, By opening up what had been Native American country to white settlement, Douglas hoped that the construction of a transcontinental railroad would run through his state rather than through the southern part of the country. The removal of the compromise of 1820, which restricted on the expansion of slavery ensured southern support .The bill signed into law on May 30, 1854 by President Franklin Pierce. The act's passage split the Democratic Party and destroyed the already badly divided Whigs. Whig opposition to the measure practically ended support for that party in the South. The northern Whigs joined antislavery Democrats and know-nothings to form the Republican Party in July 1854. A conflict soon developed in Kansas between pro-slavery settlers from Missouri and antislavery newcomers who began to move into the territory from the northeastern states. Fighting between the two groups continued for several years, aggravating the sectional controversy played a major role in the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. Bibliography: Elson, Henry W., History of the United States (1904) p. 573 Basset, John S., Short History of the United States (1913) p. 487 Muzzey, David S., The American Adventure (2 vols.: 1927) p. 485 Morrison, Samuel E., et al, The growth of the American republic (2 vol.: 1969) p. 586 Garraty, John A. The American Nation (1991) p. 402 Word Count: 675
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