Kansas-Nebraska Act

The Kansas-Nebraska Act was established by the U.S congress on May 30th, 1854. It granted the people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery in their borders. The act infuriated the North, for they had believed that the Missouri Compromise was a long- standing and binding agreement. The South, however, strongly supported the act. After the act was passed, pro-slavery and anti-slavery supporters rushed to settle in Kansas, it affected the outcome of the first election held after the act had been passed.

However, pro-slavery and anti-slavery had disagreements on the election. The pro-slavery settlers carried the first election but were charged with election fraud by the anti-slavery supporters. As a result, Kansas established two opposing legislatures. Of course, violence soon erupted, earning Kansas the nickname of "bleeding Kansas, with John Brown led the anti-slavery forces. President Franklin Pierce, support of the pro-slavery side, sent in troops to stop the violence, and in addition, to get rid of the anti-slavery forces. Afterwards, another election was called and the pro-slavery won and they were charged with election fraud once again. Because of that Congress didn't recognize the constitution from the pro-slavery settlers and Kansas was not allowed to become a state. 

Eventually, anti-slavery supporters outnumbered the other and a new constitution was formed. On January 29, 1861, Kansas became a free state in the Union.