what does the author mean in saying that popular sovereignty " undermined the Missouri compromise

The author is suggesting that the concept of popular sovereignty, which allowed the people of a territory to decide whether or not to allow slavery, weakened the Missouri Compromise. This was because the Missouri Compromise had established a line of demarcation between free and slave states, and popular sovereignty allowed the people of a territory to decide whether or not to allow slavery, thus potentially allowing slavery to spread beyond the boundaries of the Missouri Compromise.

Did you know?

Did you know that the concept of popular sovereignty undermined the Missouri Compromise? Popular sovereignty refers to the belief that the authority and power of the government is derived from the consent of the people. However, when applied to the issue of slavery, it led to further conflict and ultimately undermined the Missouri Compromise. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 aimed to maintain a balance between free and slave states by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. Yet, with the principle of popular sovereignty gaining prominence, it allowed newly admitted states to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery or not. This decision-making power led to increased tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery advocates, further dividing the nation and setting the stage for future conflicts such as Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War.