Popular Sovereignty in Kansas- How the Quest for Self-Government Sparked Violent Conflict

How did popular sovereignty lead to violence in Kansas? This question delves into the complex historical context of the 1850s in the United States, a period marked by intense political and social tensions over the issue of slavery. Popular sovereignty, the principle that the residents of a territory should decide whether to allow slavery within their borders, was intended to resolve these disputes peacefully. However, as we will explore in this article, the implementation of popular sovereignty in Kansas Territory led to a violent conflict known as “Bleeding Kansas,” which had profound implications for the nation’s future.