Read the following excerpt from the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854:
'...when admitted as a State or States, the said Territory, or any portion of the same, shall be received into the Union with or without slavery, as their Constitution may prescribe at the time of their admission...'
Which of the following principles was established by this legislation to determine the status of slavery in the Kansas and Nebraska territories?
- APopular sovereignty, which granted the President of the United States direct executive authority to decide the status of slavery in the territories.
- BPopular sovereignty, which empowered the federal Congress to vote on and dictate the status of slavery in each territory on behalf of the residents.
- Popular sovereignty, which allowed the settlers of the territory to vote on whether to permit slavery.Answer
- DPopular sovereignty, which allowed the Supreme Court to decide the legality of slavery in the territories based on local judicial rulings.
Answer
Popular sovereignty, which allowed the settlers of the territory to vote on whether to permit slavery.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 established popular sovereignty, which allowed the settlers of the territory to vote on whether to permit slavery. This principle left the decision of slavery to the local population of the territories rather than the federal government.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Popular Sovereignty
Estimated Time:45s