D1) Kansas- Nebraska Act Flashcards
What had the 1850 comp not dealt with/
- lands of Louisiana purchase
- it had dealt w lands of mexican cession
What was the basic Kan-Neb Act?
- propsed by Stephen Douglas-
- territory be split into 2 territories, Kan & Neb (the area couldn’t be developed, surveyed or sold until it was a territory)
- the settlers in each territory would be able to determine fate of sl by pop sov
What did Stephen Douglas want?
- presidential ambition
- had pushed for Nebraska to become territory since 1844
What did Douglas realisehe’d need in order to pass act?
- supp from S senators
- incl Senator Atchison of Missouri & others agreed to help if his bill:
1) specifically repealed mis comp
2) divide territory into 2- Kan in S (sl may spread here), Neb in N (little chance of sl taking hold- climate too cold for plantation agriculture)
why did stephen douglas personally want kan-neb?
- supp of pop sov- accepted S demands
- confident ppl of Neb would not v for sl
- thought it would enhance his rep nationally & in Illinois, where many ppl, including him, would benefit from TRABS-CONTINENTAL RAILWAY running West from Chicago
why did Stephen Douglas think he’d get away w act initially?
- he thought would be fine as everyone had accepted pop sov in 1850 comp- didn’t predict Ns would be as angered as they were
- by failing to predict the extent of N outrage, he weakened his P, damaged his own pres. ambitions & helped revive S v N rivalry
who was stephen douglas?
- v wealthy- H landowing money & wife is from S planter aristocracy
Who supported the kanneb act?
- Ss assume missouri farmers (w/ slaves) will cross border into Kansas, fill it w sl so itll be sl st by pop sov
- pres PEIRCE supp & pushes bill through Congress
- becomes congressional struggle & passage of bill now symbolic of S honour
Who didn’t support kanneb act?
- Ns unhappy- fuels proof that the SLAVE POWER CONSPIRACY at work
- Ns said should not have pop sov above 36’30’ as by mis comp terms, anything above should be admitted as free state- sl prohibited
- ferocity of N criticism fuels a S counter-attack
- immigration companies & abs encourage immigrants to move to area (mostly Neb as N?) to infl pop sov
How did the Parties support/ oppose kanneb act?
- N whigs & Democrats join forces in opp to measure
- S whigs & dems unite in supp
when di the kanneb act pass?
- MAY 1854
- after months of bitter debate, passes through both HoCs
- 90% Ss v for it
- 64% Ns v against it
When was the caning of Charles Sumner?
may 1856 as the situation in Kansas descended into anarchy; internal conflicts sparked in Congress in its attempts to effectively intervene
what happened may 22nd 1856?
charles Sumner gives speech on violence in Kansas, likening Southern invasion of territory to the ‘rape of a virgin’
- a few days later, the nephew of a Southerner he’d attacked (Andrew Butler), stormed into Congress and beat him unconscious w a cane
What was the impact of the caning of Charles Sumner?
- shocked nation & polarised factions further
- Ss thought it proof of abs using Congress as a forum to attack S honour, culture and economic practises - many Ss cheered him on
- Ns considered Summer an anti-sl martyr who stood up for his beliefs
what was the Kansas Nebraska Act
divided into Kansas and Nebraska, which would use pop sob to determine sl future, repealed Missouri Comp
what did Senator Atchison do in response?
founded PLATTE COUNTY DEFENSIVE ASSOCIATION- pledged to ensure Kansas would be a sl state
who were border ruffians?
gangs that battled anti sl forces, rigged ballots- created fraudulent maj for pro sl candidates
what was the MASSACHUSETTS EMMIGRANT AID COMPANY?
- sponsored 500+ Ns to settle in Kansas 1854-5
what happened in 1855 elections in Kansas?
- activist settlers poured into Kansas w intent of voting for/ against sl as a state-sanctioned institution
- 1st territorial legislature
- 100s pro sl Missourians crossed into Kansas to vote then returned
- LECOMPTON pro sl gov set up- passed a series of pro sl laws
- TOPEKA free soil gov refused to accept pro sl laws- free soil/ st settlers denied validity of Lecompton and set up own gov
how was Topeka divided?
- MODERATES- not dissimilar to pro sl- DOMINATED GOV- banned black ppl, sl or free, from Kansas
- FANATICS- ab views
- most openly racist- opposed sl for the reason that it would increase the amount of black ppl
what was the sack of Lawrence?
- May 1856- pro sl posse, trying to arrest free st leaders, ‘sacked’ & burned buildings, destroyed homes, smashed NP offices in free state centre lawrence
- event blown out of proportion by N journalists- sparked harsh violence
what was the Pottawatomie Creek Massacre?
- John Brown- ab- and his sons murderrrd 5 pro sl settlers
- he became a N hero as N NPs claimed he was acting in self defence
what was ‘Bleeding Kansas’?
started May 1856
- JB’s actions led to a series of killings on both sides- a low-intensity civil war that killed 200+ ppl in Geurilla warfare
- political violence erupted in Kansas territory & neighbouring missouri towns between pro sl & ab forces
- considered as precursor to
