How did the debate over slavery affect Kansas during the 1850s?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleeding_Kansas
The debate over slavery had a significant impact on Kansas during the 1850s. To understand why, let's break it down into steps:
1. Background: The debate over slavery had been ongoing in the United States for decades before the 1850s. The country was divided between the northern states, which generally opposed slavery, and the southern states, which relied heavily on slave labor for their agriculture-based economies.
2. Compromise of 1850: In an attempt to maintain a delicate balance between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, the Compromise of 1850 was passed. This compromise included measures such as admitting California as a free state and implementing a stricter Fugitive Slave Act.
3. Kansas-Nebraska Act: In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed. It allowed the residents of Kansas and Nebraska to decide through popular sovereignty whether to allow slavery or not. This act effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which had prohibited slavery in the region.
4. Bleeding Kansas: The passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act triggered a rush of both pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers moving into Kansas, hoping to influence the outcome. This led to violent clashes between the two factions, with both sides resorting to armed conflict. The territory became known as "Bleeding Kansas" due to the bloodshed.
5. Election fraud and violence: The struggle over slavery in Kansas was so intense that it even spilled over into the territory's elections. Both sides engaged in fraudulent voting practices and intimidation tactics, leading to widespread violence and resulting in the formation of two competing territorial governments.
6. Impact on national politics: The events in Kansas, particularly the violence and election fraud, further heightened tensions between the North and the South. The situation in Kansas became a precursor to the larger sectional conflict that eventually led to the American Civil War.
In summary, the debate over slavery during the 1850s had a profound impact on Kansas. It led to violent conflicts, election fraud, and the formation of illegitimate governments. These events helped escalate the already-existing divide between the North and the South and contributed to the growing tensions that eventually led to the Civil War.