John Whitfield Analysis

He was a strong believer in popular sovereignity. Since he felt so strongly about it, he agreed that popular sovereignity would decide whether or not Kansas and Nebraska would be free states or slave states. This decision caused a huge disagreement between the North and South because this would allow slavery north of the Mason-Dixon dividing line created in the Missouri Compromise. The president at the time, Franklin Pierce, supported Douglas’ bill and passed it on May 30th, 1854.

On May 19, 1856, Charles Sumner of Massachusetts rose to speak in the Old Senate Chamber. Sumner was an antislavery Republican who intended to address whether Kansas should be admitted to the Union as a slave state or a free state. Sumner carefully wrote a 112 page long address. He memorized every word of the address "The Crime Against Kansas."

In 1954, the Kansas- Nebraska Act was passed. Northern Democrat Steven Douglass in an attempt to build a transcontinental railroad petitioned the Kansas-Nebraska act on the bases that the Compromise of 1850 validated popular sovereignty. In Douglass’s opinion the Compromise of 1850 made the Missouri Compromise of 1820 void. There was opposition from Northern politicians who believed that the Missouri Compromise of 1820 was a sacred pact made by previous lawmakers during the union’s long history of compromises. For Southern politicians the Kansas- Nebraska Act would help the extension of slavery which most of the Northerners were against. Ignoring the wishes of the Northerners and pushing the Democratic agenda which wanted not only the

The purpose of Big World is to present to his responders a relatable and recognisable character and setting and a familiar situation. Winton’s purpose is to allow his readers to reflect on the choices they made after school and how their lives may have been different had they been more active in exploring their hopes and dreams.

One cannot truly grasp the magnitude of this Continental Congress until we look at the prominent figures in attendance during this time. There were 55 delegates in Carpenter’s Hall but perhaps the most prominent figures include, “George Washington, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, John Jay and John Dickinson.” The delegates were mainly those of high social standing and many made their living in the fields of “trade, farming and law.” Communication between the colonies was very minimal, therefore many delegates were meeting for the first time and all would have different opinions and issues.

This book tells the story of the Philadelphia convention, in the summer of 1787. Throughout, Stewart uses descriptive language to portray the delegates, both remembered —such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton— and forgotten —such as James Wilson and George Mason— in the turmoil of creating the United States constitution. It illustrates both the great conflicts and high-stake compromises that those delegates faced, all ultimately dominated by one inelegantly polarizing issue: slavery. With calculated endorsement by influential delegates such as Franklin and Washington, who

Some southerners saw a possibility to use the act to get slavery legalized in some territories, like Kansas. The Kansas territory that bordered on Missouri was a slave state. As a territory, law enforcement was inconsistent in Kansas. Missourians interested in spreading slavery traveled just across the border, set up their own territorial government with a constitution that permitted slavery, and then demanded that Washington instantly recognize it. President Bucnanan, a Pennsylvanian, wanted to admit Kansas as a slave state. Congress refused, and most observers agree that the Kansas election results were the result of Missourians who voted early and often. As usual, most northerners were against any slave act. The Missouri Compromise of 1820

Another rising issue facing congress, California -- a territory that had grown tremendously with the gold rush of 1849, had recently petitioned Congress to enter the Union as a free state. Should this be allowed? Ever since the Missouri Compromise, the balance between slave states and free states had been maintained; any proposal that threatened this balance would almost certainly not win approval.

In 1854 another problem arose which resulted in Congress passing the Kansas-Nebraska Act which repealed the Missouri Compromise, this act was introduced by Stephen A. Douglas a chairman of Committee on Territories, this act allowed the people of Kansas and Nebraska to choose rather they wanted slavery in their boundary or not through the power of popular sovereignty, the Pro-slavery settlers won the election but were charged with accusations that they cheated, in order to make sure that the vote was right they ordered a re-election but the Pro-slavery refused and the refusal resulted into a battle. John Brown an Anti-slavery leader who believed that he was sent here by god to kill anyone who was pro-slavery. He led the anti-slavery force which gained the nickname “Bleeding Kansas”. The fight was soon stopped, and a final election was held, this time the anti-slavery settlers won the vote and was announced that Kansas would become a free state in 1861. In conclusion the Compromises and Acts may have had their flaws but it they some how manage to solve the slavery issues.

A leading example of the struggles of slavery in the western states was the struggle over slavery in Kansas. Document F depicts a political cartoon basically stating that Stephen Douglas, Franklin Pierce, and James Buchanan all attempted intentionally or unintentionally to spread slavery to the West. Stephen Douglas proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act in which the Midwest Nebraska territory would be divided into two states Kansas and Nebraska and the issue of slavery would be determined by in state vote known as "popular sovereignty". Franklin Pierce aided with the signing of the bill. The results upon this bill was harsh fighting between pro-slavery supporters and non-slavery supporters in Kansas over this issue. It also led to the non-reelection of Pierce and the end to the Whig party, along with the introduction of the sectional Republican party, who opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act. An attempt at forcing slavery into

Finally, the issue of “Bloody Kansas” was a major political factor caused by westward expansion. Once it was resolved that Kansas’s stance on slavery would be determined by popular sovereignty, people flocked to Kansas to make their vote count. The “Border Ruffians” won the controversial vote, which resulted in Kansas being a slave state. However, the abolitionists refused to recognize the pro-slavery government, so they set up a second provincial government in Topeka, Kansas. This episode led to a skirmish between the Ruffians and the abolitionists, like in Lawrence, Kansas in May of 1856. This was a prelude to the actual civil war and showed that even if there was a “fair” vote to determine a Territories slave law, it didn’t mean that all the people would abide by the law. These political episodes involving the ever expanding west showed the weakness of the Union.

After the violence that ferociously occurred in Kansas, attracted a lot of attention and caused controversy in the congress. Abolitionist, Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, declared a speech called “The Crime Against Kansas.” This speech was against slavery. Sumner proclaimed against proslavery senators and he was the leader of the anti slavery forces in Massachusetts. He also repeatedly spoke against Preston Brook’s cousin, Andrew P. Butler. Two days after the speech, Preston Brooks, who he thought Sumner went too far, fiercely walked in to the senate chamber and repeatedly bludgeoned Sumner with a cane. Sumner unfortunately fell unconscious and bruised that he won’t return to the senate for several years.

The November 1846 issue begins with a meditation on the New York Constitutional Convention. The larger issue of the convention is given priority over the first image presented to readers, the engraving featured before the table of contents. Placing this essay first prioritizes the concerns of the people as they inquire as to the progress of the nation. Language suggests the journal has previously voiced its concerns and desired results stemming from this convention. The journal is aware of its voice, assuming mutual understanding, established rapport, and shared political beliefs with readers. However, the nature of the writing hints at a speculative readership. It is not enough to provide an engraving on steel. Rather, the pictured Silas Wright needs due introduction and justification, each of his triumphs and subsequent rise to

He stated he didn’t mind if it was voted for or not. What put him in trouble, nevertheless, was the inappropriate use of his opinion of moral supremacy in Kansas Territory. The Act of 1854 repealed the Missouri Compromise’s ban on slavery. Alternatively, the immigrants of the region would decide whether it would be subject to slavery4. For the Kansas, that did not imply. He had assumed that the method of popular supremacy would remove the problem of slavery’s extension from Congress and lay it in the colonies . He presumed that he was creating an ideal concession to Southern concerns and dignity, but that the functional result of this would be to encourage free

After this Hooper decided Jefferson Smith was the right choice. Mr. Smith’s late father was friends with Senator Paine