EOTO Reaction Post

In hearing my peers' Each One Teach Ones, I would like to focus on Joseph's presentation that talked about the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. I would like to start off by saying that his visual elements and power-point slides were very helpful to follow along with. In company with that, he was easy to listen to. 

Senator Douglas

The Kansas-Nebraska Act was introduced by Senator Stephen Douglas; he was interested in the building of the transcontinental railroad throughout Chicago that also went through an upcoming territory called Nebraska; but the building could not commence until he had the votes for it. Specifically, until he had proslavery votes for it.

To combat this, he came up with the idea that the Nebraska territory would be separated, or "split" into two territories. In doing this, the invisible line from the Compromise of 1850 would be uprooted, repealing what was already in place, giving these territories the ability to decide on their own, whether or not they would be free or slave states. 

Map of Kansas-Nebraska Act

This idea focuses on the premise of popular sovereignty, which means that the government's authority comes from the consent of the governed. What he believed to be a good plan (that was passed by President Pierce) led to fighting and extreme acts of violence known as "Bleeding Kansas". This is because people, regardless of if they wanted or needed to move, did, so that they had a say in the vote. 

The violence became so bad, that elections were marked by fraud and led to gorilla fighting. On the floor of Senate during a debate, one proslavery congressman beat an antislavery senator with his cane! 

All of this left Douglas confused and frustrated; his plan was not meant to cause harm, but to allow the people to exercise their rights and capabilities. Unfortunately for him, nothing went according to plan. 

Kansas Nebraska Act 1854 Abraham Lincoln At Peoria, IL: The Turning

As a result of the backlash, a party known as the Northern Whigs dissolved, and there was even a party split. The Democratic party turned into north and south factions, with the north faction becoming what we now know as the Republican party.

To this day, this event is known to be a "mini civil war" before the real one occurred; it is even recognized as a huge factor leading up to the war itself. I enjoyed hearing Joseph speak about the topic!