In the space provided, explain the Kansas-Nebraska act and compare the effects of this act to the Missouri Compromise
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was a law passed by the U.S. Congress in 1854 that allowed settlers in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to vote on whether or not to allow slavery in their state. This repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 which prohibited slavery in the Louisiana Territory north of the 36°30′ parallel.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act led to increased tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups, as both sides tried to win control of the territorial legislatures in order to shape the future of the states. This resulted in a period of violent conflict known as “Bleeding Kansas” that lasted from 1854 to 1858.
In comparison to the Missouri Compromise, the Kansas-Nebraska Act extended the possibility of slavery into areas previously considered free and allowed for individual territories to decide their own stance on the issue. This further polarized the nation and led to the eventual outbreak of the Civil War. The Missouri Compromise, on the other hand, was aimed at preventing the spread of slavery by dividing the Louisiana Territory along a specific parallel line, while maintaining the balance between slave and free states in the US Senate. The Missouri Compromise was much more successful in preventing conflict than the Kansas-Nebraska Act.