Western Settlement 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…

Territorial Expansion and Sectional Balance in America: Impact and Legacy (1845-1854)

MattJanuary 4, 202505 mins

FEATURED IMAGE: Introduction The period between 1845 and 1854 marked unprecedented territorial growth for the United States, adding over 900,000 square miles through three major acquisitions. This expansion reshaped North American boundaries and intensified debates over slavery’s future in new territories. The dramatic changes during this period established patterns of development that would influence American…