How did the Fugitive Slave Act and the Kansas-Nebraska Act further divide the North and South?
What role did the concept of popular sovereignty play in these conflicts?
Do you think there was any way to avoid the violence that came out of this era?
pls help me with these 3 questions!!!
at least give me a jump start!??
or a very very good link?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugitive_Slave_Act_of_1850
http://www.history.com/topics/kansas-nebraska-act
thank you, Ms. Sue:)
You're welcome, TTR.
Sure! I can definitely provide you with a jump start.
1. The Fugitive Slave Act and the Kansas-Nebraska Act both deepened the division between the North and the South of the United States. The Fugitive Slave Act, enacted in 1850, required all citizens to assist in the capture and return of runaway slaves to their owners. This Act was highly controversial in the North, as it mandated the cooperation of even those who opposed slavery. It led to strong opposition and increased tensions between the two regions, with Northern states passing "personal liberty laws" to counteract the Act.
On the other hand, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, passed in 1854, allowed settlers to determine the issue of slavery in their respective territories through popular sovereignty. This meant that the residents could vote on whether their territory would be a slave state or a free state. However, this Act effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which had restricted slavery in certain territories. The Act sparked intense rivalry and violence between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in Kansas (known as "Bleeding Kansas").
2. Popular sovereignty played a significant role in these conflicts. The concept of popular sovereignty emerged as a compromise to settle the issue of slavery in the territories, letting the people living in those territories make the decision. Supporters argued that it was a democratic solution, allowing residents to exercise their right to self-government. However, popular sovereignty led to significant divisions and conflicts because it allowed pro-slavery and anti-slavery advocates to fight for control over each territory. Instead of resolving the issue, it intensified the clash between the North and the South.
3. Avoiding violence during this era might have been challenging due to the deeply ingrained divisions over slavery and its morality. The moral, economic, and political differences between the North and the South were ultimately irreconcilable. The advent of the Civil War was a culmination of these tensions, as efforts to compromise and resolve the conflict peacefully had repeatedly failed.
To delve deeper into these topics, I recommend checking out the following sources:
1. Fugitive Slave Act: https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/fugitive-slave-acts
2. Kansas-Nebraska Act: https://www.history.com/topics/westward-expansion/kansas-nebraska-act
3. Popular Sovereignty: https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/popular-sovereignty
These resources should provide you with a thorough understanding of the subject matter.