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The '''Kansas-Nebraska Act''' was an 1854 law opening the [[US]] territories of [[Kansas]] and [[Nebraska]] to settlement, with the extremely controversial provision that the residents would decide whether or not to have slavery. It was the test of the "[[popular sovereignty]]" idea that democracy would trump ethics--that is, [[slavery]] was neither right nor wrong, but a policy people should decide for themselves. Illinois Senator [[Stephen Douglas]], leader of the Democrats in the Senate, devised and pushed the bill through to passage with a herculean effort. The Act led to civil war in Kansas--"[[Bleeding Kansas]]"--and escalated the tensions over slavery that led to secession and the [[American Civil War]] in 1861.

The '''Kansas-Nebraska Act''' was an 1854 law opening the American territories of [[Kansas]] and [[Nebraska]] to settlement, with the extremely controversial provision that the residents would decide whether or not to have slavery. It was the test of the "[[popular sovereignty]]" idea that democracy would trump ethics--that is, [[slavery]] was neither right nor wrong, but a policy people should decide for themselves. Illinois Senator [[Stephen Douglas]], leader of the Democrats in the Senate, devised and pushed the bill through to passage with a herculean effort. The Act led to civil war in Kansas--"[[Bleeding Kansas]]"--and escalated the tensions over slavery that led to secession and the [[American Civil War]] in 1861.

The Act effectively nullified the earlier [[Missouri Compromise]], as Kansas and Nebraska were both north of the compromise line where slavery was not to be allowed. Anti-slavery activists were outraged. The act let settlers decide for themselves whether to allow slavery, in the name of "popular sovereignty" or rule of the people. Opponents, led by [[Free Soil]] Democrats such as [[Salmon P. Chase]] denounced the law as a concession to the [[Slave Power]] --that is the political machine of slaveowners that controlled the South and much of the national government. The act and the subsequent civil war in [[Bleeding Kansas]] was a major step on the way to the [[American Civil War]].

The Act effectively nullified the earlier [[Missouri Compromise]], as Kansas and Nebraska were both north of the compromise line where slavery was not to be allowed. Anti-slavery activists were outraged. The act let settlers decide for themselves whether to allow slavery, in the name of "popular sovereignty" or rule of the people. Opponents, led by [[Free Soil]] Democrats such as [[Salmon P. Chase]] denounced the law as a concession to the [[Slave Power]] --that is the political machine of slaveowners that controlled the South and much of the national government. The act and the subsequent civil war in [[Bleeding Kansas]] was a major step on the way to the [[American Civil War]].

Widespread low-level violence turned the new territory of Kansas into [[Bleeding Kansas]] 1855-56. (Nebraska was a separate territory and did not have trouble.)

Widespread low-level violence turned the new territory of Kansas into [[Bleeding Kansas]] 1855-56. (Nebraska was a separate territory and did not have trouble.)

Multiple votes over slavery ended up taking place in Kansas, and they were rife with accusations of voter fraud.

Multiple votes over slavery ended up taking place in Kansas, and they were rife with accusations of voter fraud.