The Failure of Popular Sovereignty Bleeding Kansas

Flashback to Missouri Compromise “KANSAS SHOULD BE A FREE STATE!”

The Transcontinental Railroad  To fully take advantage of Manifest Destiny, Americans start to push for a railroad that will connect the country from East Coast to West Coast  North and South fight over where to put the railroad

The Gadsden Purchase Franklin Pierce’s Secretary of War Jefferson Davis sends James Gadsden to purchase this land from Mexico for $10 Million- opens up Southern railroad route.

Stephen Douglas

The Kansas-Nebraska Act  Repealed the Missouri Compromise  Created 2 territories- Kansas and Nebraska  Slavery in both territories would be determined by popular sovereignty  Nebraska would most definitely be a free state while Kansas could possibly be a slave state  Bill pushed through by Stephen Douglas

The Kansas Nebraska Act

Reaction to Kansas-Nebraska  Supported by all Southerners and some Northern Democrats  Supported by President Franklin Pierce (Dem)  Most Northerners are furious- We had a deal with the Miss. Compromise  Creates controversy across the country

Other Effects:  Divides Northern Democrats  Divides and destroys the Whig Party  Most importantly- leads to the creation of the Republican Party

Popular Sovereignty= Epic Fail  The vote in Kansas is extremely corrupt and ends up being for pro-slavery  1,500 registered voters and 6,307 votes are cast  Border Ruffians cross the border from Missouri to illegally vote

1 Territory but 2 Governments  Pro-Slavery supporters set up a government in Lecompton  Anti-Slavery supporters set up a government in Topeka  Pierce supports pro-slavery government (Big Surprise)

The Sack of Lawrence  Pro-Slavery posse attacks free staters city  Burn governors house, destroy printing press, and try to intimidate free staters (only death was pro slavery raider who was crushed by ceiling)

John Brown and the Pottawatomie Massacre  Brown and 4 sons drag pro slavery supporters from their homes and hack them to death with broadswords.  Leaves their mutilated bodies as a warning to others

The Beating of Charles Sumner  Charles Sumner gives a speech “The Crime Against Kansas” where he attacks Andrew Butler and his mistress slavery (crude references)  Preston Brooks (nephew) is angry and vows revenge  Walks up to Sumner and beats him at his desk

Sumner a Martyr, Brooks a Hero Brooks sent over 1000 canes from Southerners- “Hit em again”

The Legacy of Bleeding Kansas  Lecompton Constitution voted down even with President Buchanan’s support  Kansas becomes a free state in 1861 after secession begins  John Brown becomes a controversial hero for the North  North/South tensions at an all time high- Civil War is inevitable