It was in 1854 that the Missouri compromise that prevented slavery to the north of Missouri's southern border, was repealed. This was done by Senator Stephen Douglas who wrote the Kansas-Nebraska act that established two new territories namely Kansas and Nebraska. The new act stated the notion of popular sovereignty to be the major determinant in deciding whether slavery would be empowered in these newly-created territories.
As Kansas was the first state to vote for or against slavery, many people moved to Kansas to vote on their respective stances nevertheless the end result of the elections was in the favor of slavery. A group of people called the Free Soilers did not accept this result and instead started their own government in Kansas with the state now having two governments, one in favor of slavery and one against it. Terrible fights broke between the two groups and many people were killed and the atmosphere was so severely belligerent that the territory of Kansas was referred to as 'bleeding Kansas'.
As Kansas was the first state to vote for or against slavery, many people moved to Kansas to vote on their respective stances nevertheless the end result of the elections was in the favor of slavery. A group of people called the Free Soilers did not accept this result and instead started their own government in Kansas with the state now having two governments, one in favor of slavery and one against it. Terrible fights broke between the two groups and many people were killed and the atmosphere was so severely belligerent that the territory of Kansas was referred to as 'bleeding Kansas'.
