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Section 1: Slavery and Western Expansion Section 2: The Crisis Deepens Chapter Introduction Section 1: Slavery and Western Expansion Section 2: The Crisis Deepens Section 3: The Union Dissolves Visual Summary Chapter Menu

The Kansas-Nebraska Act In the 1850s the debate over the spread of slavery became increasingly heated and sometimes turned violent. Section 1

The Kansas-Nebraska Act (cont.) The opening of Oregon and the admission of California to the Union had convinced Americans that a transcontinental railroad should be built to connect the West Coast to the rest of the country. Many Southerners preferred a southern route from New Orleans for the railroad. Section 1

The Kansas-Nebraska Act (cont.) In 1853 Mexico accepted $10 million for the Gadsden Purchase, which would allow the railroad to pass through northern Mexico. Senator Stephen A. Douglas wanted the eastern terminus to be in Chicago but knew that Congress first had to organize the unsettled lands west of Missouri and Iowa. Section 1

The Kansas-Nebraska Act (cont.) Southern senators made it clear to Douglas that if he wanted Nebraska organized, he needed to work to repeal the Missouri Compromise and allow slavery in the new territory. Section 1

The Kansas-Nebraska Act (cont.) Douglas proposed the following bill: He would undo the Missouri Compromise and allow slavery in the region. He would also divide the region into two territories—Nebraska (a free state) and Kansas (a slave state). Section 1

The Kansas-Nebraska Act (cont.) Despite Northern opposition, the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed. “Bleeding Kansas,” as newspapers dubbed the territory, became the scene of a territorial civil war between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers. “Bleeding Kansas,” 1855–1856 Section 1

The Kansas-Nebraska Act (cont.) Senator Charles Sumner, a fiery abolitionist, delivered a speech accusing pro-slavery senators of forcing Kansas into the ranks of slave states. He singled out Senator Andrew P. Butler. Butler’s second cousin, Representative Preston Brooks, beat Sumner savagely with a cane, leaving him severely injured. Section 1

By March 1856, Kansas had two governments because of the issue of slavery. A. True B. False A B Section 1

Section 1-End

Figure 3

popular sovereignty government subject to the will of the people; before the Civil War, the idea that people living in a territory had the right to decide by voting if slavery would be allowed there Vocab1

secession withdrawal from the Union Vocab2

transcontinental railroad a railway system extending across the continent Vocab3