Changes

'''4.''' Stephen Douglas was an extremely important figure in the 1840-1860 period.  The Kansas-Nebraska Act, his brainchild, which allowed the inhabitants of each new territory to decide for themselves whether or not they wanted to allow slavery in that territory, was perhaps the biggest reason for the Civil War (other than the existence of slavery itself.)  He was a brilliant speaker who always tried, usually unsuccessfully, to compromise between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces.

'''4.''' Stephen Douglas was an extremely important figure in the 1840-1860 period.  The Kansas-Nebraska Act, his brainchild, which allowed the inhabitants of each new territory to decide for themselves whether or not they wanted to allow slavery in that territory, was perhaps the biggest reason for the Civil War (other than the existence of slavery itself.)  He was a brilliant speaker who always tried, usually unsuccessfully, to compromise between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces.

   

   

:Superb, so good that I will include as a model answer.

:Superb, so good that I will include as a model answer.  Update: I changed my mind after seeing the model answers; we have this point covered already.  Instead, I want to use your Dred Scott answer in the model.

    

    

'''5.''' “Bleeding Kansas” was the entire conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers in the state of Kansas in the 1850s.  It began when pro-slavery forces attacked an abolitionist newspaper headquarters and destroyed the building and equipment.  A man was killed by the pro-slavers.

'''5.''' “Bleeding Kansas” was the entire conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers in the state of Kansas in the 1850s.  It began when pro-slavery forces attacked an abolitionist newspaper headquarters and destroyed the building and equipment.  A man was killed by the pro-slavers.