0.6 kansas-nebraska

why was Nebraska a problem

part of the louisiana purchase, still largely unsettled

northerners keen to see it developed, southerners less enthusiastic

it lay north of the 36’30 line, so by the terms of the missouri compromise, new states in the area would enter as free

southern politicians wanted to delay making it a territory for that reason

who introduced the Kansas-Nebraska bill

Douglas

january 1854

what did douglas need to get the bill enacted

support of southern senators

so

avoided mentioning missouri compromise

designed it to appeal to the south

what did the bill propose

• repealed missouri compromise, introducing popular sovereignty instead

• divided nebraska into two: Kansas and Nebraska

what effects did the Kansas-Nebraska bill have

created a ‘hell of a storm’

proved slave power conspiracy to northers, encouraging rise in abolitionism

salmon chase wrote effective abolitionist propaganda

northern attacks meant the bill became a symbol of southern honour

Kansas-Nebraska bill in congress + stats

bill became law in may 1854

90% southern congressmen voted for it

64% northern congressmen voted against it

northern democrats split: 44 in house voted for it, 43 voted against it

revived north-south rivalry