Bleeding Kansas
Senator Douglass proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, which regarded areas from the Louisana Purchase all the way to the Canadian border. Because of this act, the issue of whether slavery should expand with the western territories resurfaced once again. This introduced the concept of popular sovereignty [see "Government Decisions" under the "Constituional Impact" tab for more details] which allowed the territories to make decisions regarding slavery for themselves (majority rules). By 1856, around 200 settlers were killed due to violence in the area over popular sovereignty with slavery and this blood feud became known as "Bleeding Kansas".
Senator Douglass proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, which regarded areas from the Louisana Purchase all the way to the Canadian border. Because of this act, the issue of whether slavery should expand with the western territories resurfaced once again. This introduced the concept of popular sovereignty [see "Government Decisions" under the "Constituional Impact" tab for more details] which allowed the territories to make decisions regarding slavery for themselves (majority rules). By 1856, around 200 settlers were killed due to violence in the area over popular sovereignty with slavery and this blood feud became known as "Bleeding Kansas".