ATXsPicturePaper

ATX's Picture Paper
In January of 1854 during a meeting in Congress, Stephen Douglas introduced the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which proposed to divide the remainder of the Louisana Purchase into two territories: Kansas and Nebraska. The reason for this act was that Douglas wanted to build a railroad that began in Chicago, Illinois that would stretch to the Pacific. Congress proposed a southern route, but Congress said that they would abandon that plan unless Missori could be open to slavery. This act would also eliminate the Missori Compromise's restricitions. Many people, mostly the south did not like the idea, so they rebeled against Douglas by sending petitions to Congress. The Kansas-Nebraska Act did go into order two years after it was proposed by Stephen Douglas in 1854 during a meeting with Congress.

The northern region wanted Kansas and Nebraska to be free states. They thought that if there were more free states, the North would gain power and be able to overrule the south when voting on decisions. As you can tell from the name, the voting was held in Kansas. When people from Missouri voted in Kansas, the Proslavery party won. Kansas was therefore a slave state. Then, there was an argument. Congress thought it should be anti slavery due to the Missouri Compromise Line. There then was a battle over what Kansas should be. The Antislavery party won. Kansas and Nebraska both became free states. This act was important because it decided what parts of the Louisiana purchase would be slave free.