Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Kansas Nebraska Act
Read about the essential repeal of the Missouri Compromise, which had established which states could be slave and which would be free for thirty years, with the rancorous passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. See who supported it and why,...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Compromise of 1850
Find the various parts of the Compromise of 1850, proposed by Henry Clay, that extended slavery in some cases, prohibited in others, and added California as a free state. A clear chart shows what parts of the law were beneficial to the...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Constitution Through Compromise
Read about how compromises were reached at the Philadelphia convention that dealt with issues between large and small states, and slave and free states. Take the quick quiz to assess knowledge about the writing of the Constitution.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: State Constitutions
The new states did a great deal of experimentation within the bounds of the new republican ideals. Read about three very different takes on how a state should be organized governmentally.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Fort Scott National Historic Site: Bleeding Kansas
Discusses the effects of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. In particular, the site details incidents from the period known as "Bleeding Kansas."
Library of Congress
Loc: Today in History: April 23: The Little Giant
Contains a short biography on U.S. congressman, senator, and presidential candidate Stephen A. Douglas.
Lumen Learning
Lumen: Boundless: u.s. History: The Compromise of 1850
Presents the events leading up to the passing of the Compromise of 1850, followed by a description of those events, the content of the Compromise, and its impact.
University of Oregon
University of Oregon: Mapping History: Kansas Nebraska Act: 1854
Toggle back and forth on this interactive map to see how the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 completely negated the Missouri Compromise. Click on the map to see where slavery was permitted before 1854 and then after. Be sure to click on the...
University of Oregon
University of Oregon: Mapping History: Compromise of 1850: Status of Slavery
An interactive map that clearly shows the change in the status of slavery in territories from the Missouri Compromise to the Compromise of 1850. Click on the map to see the status before and after the Compromise of 1850.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Presidential Election, 1856
A map of the United States during the heated presidential election of 1856, showing the States carried by the Republican Party (John Fremont), Democrat Party (James Buchanan), and the newly formed American Party, or 'Know-Nothing’ Party...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Presidential Election , 1856
A map of the United States during the heated presidential election of 1856, showing the States carried by the Republican Party (John Fremont), Democrat Party (James Buchanan), and the newly formed American Party, or 'Know-Nothing’ Party...
Other
Famous Illinoisians With Civil War Ties: Stephen Douglas
Provides biographical facts about Stephen Arnold Douglas in bulleted list format.
PBS
Pbs: Core Values of American Constitutional Democracy
A list of terms presented by PBS and Newshour of the values that make up the foundation of American constitutional democracy and the preservation of political and economic freedoms.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Stephen A. Douglas
Here is some brief information on the "Little Giant", also known as Stephen Douglas, and his senatorial career. The information is divided into three short pages.
Kansas Historical Society
Kansapedia: "Bleeding Kansas"
When Kansas became a state it would change the balance of power, so there was fighting between the pro- and anti-slavery groups. This page offers an explanation of that piece of Kansas history, plus letters from two who supported Kansas'...
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Kansas Nebraska Act
Provides an overview and detailed facts about the Kansas-Nebraska Act that allowed settlers in the new territories to decide whether to have slavery.