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Which one of following developments took place because of the Kansas Nebraska Act of 1854?
Explanation
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 was a landmark piece of legislation that effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 [2]. The Missouri Compromise had previously prohibited slavery in the Louisiana Purchase territory north of the 36°30′ latitude line [1]. By introducing the principle of 'popular sovereignty,' the Act allowed the settlers of the newly formed Kansas and Nebraska territories to decide for themselves through a popular vote whether to permit or prohibit slavery within their borders [3]. This shift in policy removed federal authority over the slavery question in these regions and transferred it to the local residents [1]. The Act's passage led to intense national tension and violent confrontations between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers, a period known as 'Bleeding Kansas,' which significantly contributed to the onset of the American Civil War [4].
Sources
- [1] https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/kansas-nebraska-act
- [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas%E2%80%93Nebraska_Act
- [3] https://www.nps.gov/articles/bleedingks.htm
- [4] https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Kansas_Nebraska_Act.htm