Kansas-Nebraska Act

• Allowed popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska

• Why would this be a problem?

Kansas-Nebraska Act

• New England Emigrant Aid Company vs. Slaveholders from Missouri.......

• fear that Kansas would become safe haven for run away slaves

Awkward Moment -- 2 State Legislatures

• May 1855...pro-slavery legislature says only pro-slavery men could hold office

Awkward Moment -- 2 State Legislatures

• Fall 1855...'free soilers' create a State Constitution to ban slavery

Why might this be a problem?
If you were President how would you solve this problem?

President Pierce decided

to listen to the pro-slavery state legislature

Bloodshed in Kansas

• May 1856....Lawrence, Kansas violence

  • John Brown and men avenged the town

• Pro-slavery southerners tried to find Brown AND

  • attacked Brown's headquarters

• What is the pattern?

Violence in Congress

• Senator Sumner spoke out against "Bleeding of Kansas'

• Spoke out against a number of Southern Senators....insulted Senator Butler too

Violence in Congress

• Representative Brooks attacked Sumner two days later to avenge Butler

Was speaking out against these Senators the right thing to do? What did Sumner do that was 'wrong'?

​What 1, or 2, words would you use to describe the violence in Congress?