Analysis of the Kansas-Nebraska Act - Report Example

The Kansas-Nebraska Act College Introduction The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 was basically responsible for the creation of the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, opened up new lands and repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Aside from this, the said act also allowed settlers in the aforementioned territories to determine if they would allow slavery within their boundaries. The said act was established and designed by Democratic Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois. Its purpose was to ease the relations between the Northern and Southern states as the latter could expand slavery to new territories but the former still had the right to abolish slavery in their states. The opponents of Douglas, however, denounced the law for it is a concession to the slave power of the South. Hence, the new Republican Party was created in opposition to the act in order to stop the expansion of slavery. Later on, the said party, as headed by Abraham Lincoln, soon emerged as the dominant force throughout the North. It is the goal of this paper to discuss in depth each of the sections contained in the Kansas-Nebraska Act and compare what is contained therein to published primary and secondary sources in relation to the topic at hand to determine whether or not the latter enhance, explain or even contradict the former. Analysis of the Kansas-Nebraska Act As previously stated, the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 was promulgated in furtherance of the objectives of the American Congress with regard to betterment of the relationship between the Northern and Southern states. It is then in this regard that the territories of Kansas and Nebraska were created and opened up new lands which eventually repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 as it has given the territories the right to choose in relation to the practice of slavery within their boundaries. The creation of the territories of Nebraska and Kansas were expressly provided in Sections 1 and 20 of the said Act respectively (Transcript of Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854). In the said sections, the authors expressly enumerated the different landmarks and geographical area that define both Nebraska and Kansas. Furthermore, both sections also expressly provide that both territories shall be admitted to the Union with or without slavery (Transcript of Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854). In general, the debates that sparked with regard to the said act have been greatly influenced by the said provisions. As earlier stated, Sections 1 and 20 impliedly repealed the Missouri Compromise for it has given Nebraska and Kansas an opportunity to choose whether or not slavery will be allowed in their territories. The validity of the said provisions was assailed by Hon. Charles Sunmer through the delivery of his speech before the American Senate on the 21st of February, 1854. According to the said senator, the promulgation of the Kansas-Nebraska Act which resulted to the creation of two new territorial establishments, with governors, secretaries, legislative councils, legislators, judges, marshals and the whole machinery of civil society have violated the prohibition which was embodied in the act of Congress as approve in the sixth of March, 1820. Apparently, the said act of Congress, otherwise known as the Missouri compromise, provided that: in all territory ceded by France to the United States, under the name of Louisiana which lies north of 36 30’ of North Latitude, not included within the limits of the State contemplated by this act, slavery and involuntary servitude, otherwise than as the punishment of crimes, shall be and is hereby, forever prohibited (Sunmer, 1854). Another critic of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 was Abraham Lincoln, the contender for the Illinois Senate Seat which Douglas, the proponent of the said law. Lincoln generally assails the latter’s concept of popular sovereignty which is generally expressed in Sections 1 and 20 of the Kansas-Nebraska Act which allows both territories to choose whether or not slavery will be allowed in their jurisdiction. Such contention of Lincoln lies on the fact that allowing popular sovereignty would eventually nationalize and perpetuate slavery. There is without a doubt, a high possibility that slavery will go to Kansas and Nebraska, taking into consideration the fact that it is located in the same border wherein slaves are normally found (Lincoln, 1854). Aside from this, Lincoln (1854) also argues that the establishment of new territories such as Nebraska and Kansas were meant to serve as home for the free peoples of the Union. Also, this statesman also believes that it is relatively dangerous for the nation to allow territories to decide on whether or not slavery shall be permitted in their geographical area. Apparently, this is because of the fact that only the will of the powerful few will be properly expressed and not of the significant majority. He believes that it is the duty of the entire nation to ensure that decisions with regard to their preservation and perpetuity, their liberties and institutions should not be placed in the hands of the feeble keepers of the government for this would surely bring negative effects to the society. The primary source obtained by the researcher with regard to the speech of Abraham Lincoln (1854) affirms the earlier presentation made with regard to Sections 1 and 20 of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Apparently, as repeatedly pointed out in the earlier parts of this paper, the said act was mainly responsible for the creation of Kansas and Nebraska. The said sections expressly provided that both these new territories are allowed to become a part of the Union with or without slavery, thereby in violation of the Missouri Compromise. Hence, debates sparked between many statesmen, including the Honorable Senator Sunmer and the popular contender of the act’s proponent for the Illinois seat, Lincoln. The article entitled “The Kansas and Nebraska Act” (2005) also affirms the abovementioned. According to such, the promulgation of the said law was of paramount importance for it sparked numerous rallies that were aimed towards the abolishment of slavery in the Northern part of the Union which apparently resurfaced due to the said law. The said article also reiterates the fact that the promulgation of the Kansas-Nebraska Act also resulted to formation of the Republican Party that year whose members, led by Abraham Lincoln, opposed the contents of the said law, due to the fact that it would perpetuate and nationalize slaver (The Kansas and Nebraska Act, 2005). While the primary sources previously mentioned focused merely on the beliefs of the statesmen with regard to the issue at hand, the secondary sources obtained by the researcher merely focused on the political aspects of the said debates. For instance, the article “The Kansas and Nebraska Act” (2005a) focused on the motives of Douglas in relation to his authorship of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. According to this article, Douglas was interested in the Democratic presidential nomination in 1856 and was hoping to win the support of the Sothern states. Aside from this, critics also argued that Douglas had a material interest in the promotion of slavery for one of his wives had inherited a plantation with one hundred and fifty slaves (The Kansas-Nebraska Act, 2005b). The article further claims that the purpose of Douglas for authoring such article remained unknown until the discovery of a letter he wrote wherein he explained the reason behind his authorship of the act. Apparently, Douglas stated that his main purpose for authoring such act was to remove the barbarian wall of Indian tribes checking further settlement in the central plains and to authorize and encourage a continuous line of settlements to the Pacific Ocean (The Kansas-Nebraska Act, 2005). Nevertheless, he claimed that he never intended to implicate the issue of slavery in the said subject matter. Ricky and Mallory & Company (1860), on the other hand, also illustrated the political aspect of the debates between Douglas and Lincoln in relation to the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Rickey, Mallory and Company (2009) created a cartoon which shows Douglas and Lincoln in a square off which represents their political conflict wherein the former is supported by an Irishman while the latter was being coached by a black man armed with a basket of liquor bottles. Conclusion The Kansas-Nebraska Act which was promulgated in 1854 sparked several debates amongst statesmen with regard to the legality of allowing the two newly-formed states to choose whether or now slavery will be permitted in their jurisdiction or not. The main issue is generally contained in Sections 1 and 20 thereof. Primary and secondary sources affirm the existence of such provisions. Nevertheless, the primary sources mainly focused on the views and opinions of statesmen with regard to the issue being assailed. On the other hand, secondary sources gave more attention to the political aspect behind the debates that have arisen due to this act. References Lincoln, A. (1854). Speech on the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Retrieved December 4, 2009 from http://vlib.us/amdocs/texts/kansas.html Rickey, Mallory and Company (2009). The undecided political prize. Retrieved December 4, 2009 from http://www.abrahamlincolnsclassroom.org/cartoon_corner/index3.asp?ID=225&TypeID=1 [1860]. Sunmer, C. (1854). The landmark of freedom, speech against the repeal of the Missouri Prohibition of Slavery North of 36 30’. In the Senate, February 21, 1854. The Kansas Nebraska Act. (2005). Retrieved December 4, 2009 from http://www.civilwarhome.com/kansasnebraska.htm [2005]. The Kansas Nebraska Act. (1854). Retrieved December 4, 2009 from http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=28&page=transcript [1854]. Read More