Popular Sovereignty Archives - Info by Matt Cole

The Kansas-Nebraska Act: A Turning Point in American History

MattJanuary 9, 2025015 mins

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 stands as one of the most significant pieces of legislation in American history. This groundbreaking law established two new territories while introducing the concept of popular sovereignty to determine slavery’s status within their borders. The act effectively canceled the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which had maintained a careful balance between…

Sectional Division and Slavery: The Path to Civil War

MattJanuary 8, 2025January 8, 2025025 mins

The decades leading up to the American Civil War marked a period of growing tension between Northern and Southern states. These divisions stemmed from fundamental disagreements about slavery, economics, and state rights. Between 1820 and 1861, the United States experienced a series of crises that tested the nation’s ability to maintain unity. Each attempted compromise…