1. The Failure of Popular Sovereignty
Bleeding Kansas
The Failure of Popular Sovereignty

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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. Stephen Douglas
The Little Giant has other ideas! He wants the railroad to go through Illinois.

6. The Kansas-Nebraska Act- 1954
Repealed the Missouri Compromise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

7. The Kansas Nebraska Act

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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