kansas-nebraska act Flashcards
(7 cards)
topic sentence
Some historians such as Hugh Tulloch argue that disputes over Western territories were the most important reason for the breakdown of the two-party system and the growth of the Republicans by 1856.
evidence 1 - outline of kansas nebraska
The settling of Nebraska had been an ongoing issue due to the geographical proximity of it, therefore, Stephen A Douglass proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which became law on the 30th of May 1854. This Act agreed that the states formed from Nebraska were to be received into the Union “with or without slavery as their constitution may prescribe at the time of their admission”, while also repealing the Missouri Compromise (the agreement that there should be no slavery in the Louisianna Purchase Territory North of latitude 36 30)by substituting it for popular sovereignty. Additionally, it split Nebraska into two territories, ‘Kansas’ and ‘Nebraska’.
analysis 1
This led to the breakdown of the two-party system because Northerners were outraged by the Act, they saw it as evidence of the slave power conspiracy as the repeal of the Missouri compromise demonstrated the political power of the Southern planter class. Indeed, they all joined in their support to oppose it. Sectional divides between parties caused Northerners to look for other options, in the spring and summer of 1854 several anti-slavery coalitions were created, which eventually became known as the Republicans.
evidence 2 - border ruffians
Additionally, the future of slavery in Kansas proved to be an ongoing issue. For example, despite the anti-slavery majority in Kansas, when an election was called to delegate Congress in late 1854, a group of pro-slavers from Missouri, named the “border ruffians” traveled to Kansas to vote for the “pro-slavery” candidate and then moved back to Missouri as in Kansas you could vote no matter how long you had resided there for.
analysis 2
This yet again contributed to the demise of the second party system because it was clear evidence of the slave power conspiracy at work. While the leading parties (Democrats and Whigs) were unwilling to take a firm stance against slavery, Northerners were becoming increasing inclined to support parties such as Republicans.
counter analysis
However, Democrat Governer Andrew Reeder, held new elections in 1/3rd of the electoral districts after it was discovered that 3/5ths of voters had come from slave states, suggesting that Northerners had reason to support the Democrats as they were actively trying to make the system fair.
evaluation
To evaluate, it is clear the Kansas-Nebraska act was significant in breaking down the two-party system, Hugh Tulloch therefore argues, the birth of Republican Party occurred in the aftermath of the Kansas-Nebraska controversy. However, the Republican party wouldn’t have grown in prominence if it wasn’t for fear of a slave power conspiracy.
