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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]].

The problem was that thousands of people poured into Kansas in order to shape the electoral outcome.  Pro-slavery ruffians from Missouri fought with anti-slavery settlers funded by New England abolitionists and Protestant churches.  Long crates shipped from New Haven were marked "Bibles"; inside were rifles. People called them "Beecher Bivles" after the abolitionist preacher.

The problem was that thousands of people poured into Kansas in order to shape the electoral outcome.  Pro-slavery ruffians from Missouri fought with anti-slavery settlers funded by New England abolitionists and Protestant churches.  Long crates shipped from New Haven were marked "Bibles"; inside were rifles. People called them "Beecher Bibles" after the abolitionist preacher.

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.)