The Kansas-Nebraska Act- May 30, 1854

The Kansas Nebraska act was put into effect on May 30, 1854. This allowed the people in the territories of Kansas or Nebraska to decide themselves if they want to be a slave state or not. This act was created as a compromise for the issue of slavery. Because slavery was a huge debate between the North and The south this was put into place so that the people could make the choice. Though, the North believed with more  states becoming territories for slavery the South would have to much power. The North also believed that if the great plains turned into slave territory, slavery may spread rapidly through the country. Northerners did not agree with this change because it went completely against the Missouri Compromise. The Missouri Compromise stated any states past a certain point could or could not be a slave state. The South liked the change though because they would be able to have more slavery therefore more power. With the North and the south disagreeing on this act it was not long before conflict arose. Once the new act was passed anti-slavery and pro-slavery supporters rushed to the scene to settle Kansas to affect the first election being held. Pro-slavery supporters carried out the election but were charged with fraud by anti-slavery supporters. Anti-slavery supporters held another election but pro-slavery supporters refused to vote. When violence soon erupted the anti-slavery supporters were being led by supporter John Brown. These actions were soon named “Bleeding Kansas”. The Kansas- Nebraska Act caused great commotion between the north and the south but had a greater affect on the North. The North was strongly angered by this decision that it did not take long for conflict to arise.