Activity Overview
For this activity, students will detail the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, along with the events that followed from it. Students will use a Frayer Model to help centralize the aim of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the effects and events that resulted from it. Students should include events such as Bleeding Kansas, The Dred Scott decision, popular sovereignty in action, and the Lecompton Constitution. Students may also include John Brown and the Pottawattamie Massacre, and how it exemplified the violence and tensions between pro-slavers and free-soilers aiming for control of the area.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854
Aims and Compromises
The Kansas-Nebraska Act, supported by Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas, was proposed to bring the Nebraska territory under control. Northern interests sought the territory for a transcontinental railroad, while the South wanted to expand slave territory.
Supporters / Opposers
The Kansas-Nebraska Act immediately created political divides and rifts. With support of the bill coming from Douglas, a prominent member of the Whig Party, a divide quickly occurred between Northern and Southern Whigs. Northern Whig opposers soon joined the newly formed Republican Party while Southerners found loyalties with the Democrats.
Bloody Kansas
'Bloody Kansas' refers to the violence resulting from immediate attempts to settle the Kansas-Nebraska territory by both Pro-slavers and Free-soilers. By settling the area, each group aimed to influence the law of the land as to whether each state would enter the Union as free or slave. This majority choice of the people is known as popular sovereignty.
Pottawatomie Massacre
The Pottawatomie Massacre is one example of the extreme violence that occurred during the attempted settlement of the Kansas-Nebraska territory. John Brown, a devout religious abolitionist, murdered five pro-slavers in revenge for the pro-slave attack on the Free-soiler town of Lawrence, KS.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Use the Frayer Model layout to detail the events surrounding the Kansas-Nabraska Act of 1854.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In one cell, detail the aims and compromises of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
- In another cell, quickly detail the supporters and opposers.
- In the bottom cells, detail the events that came as a result of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
- In each cell, create an illustration relating to what you detailed with appropriate characters, scenes, and items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Activity Overview
For this activity, students will detail the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, along with the events that followed from it. Students will use a Frayer Model to help centralize the aim of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the effects and events that resulted from it. Students should include events such as Bleeding Kansas, The Dred Scott decision, popular sovereignty in action, and the Lecompton Constitution. Students may also include John Brown and the Pottawattamie Massacre, and how it exemplified the violence and tensions between pro-slavers and free-soilers aiming for control of the area.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854
Aims and Compromises
The Kansas-Nebraska Act, supported by Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas, was proposed to bring the Nebraska territory under control. Northern interests sought the territory for a transcontinental railroad, while the South wanted to expand slave territory.
Supporters / Opposers
The Kansas-Nebraska Act immediately created political divides and rifts. With support of the bill coming from Douglas, a prominent member of the Whig Party, a divide quickly occurred between Northern and Southern Whigs. Northern Whig opposers soon joined the newly formed Republican Party while Southerners found loyalties with the Democrats.
Bloody Kansas
'Bloody Kansas' refers to the violence resulting from immediate attempts to settle the Kansas-Nebraska territory by both Pro-slavers and Free-soilers. By settling the area, each group aimed to influence the law of the land as to whether each state would enter the Union as free or slave. This majority choice of the people is known as popular sovereignty.
Pottawatomie Massacre
The Pottawatomie Massacre is one example of the extreme violence that occurred during the attempted settlement of the Kansas-Nebraska territory. John Brown, a devout religious abolitionist, murdered five pro-slavers in revenge for the pro-slave attack on the Free-soiler town of Lawrence, KS.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Use the Frayer Model layout to detail the events surrounding the Kansas-Nabraska Act of 1854.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In one cell, detail the aims and compromises of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
- In another cell, quickly detail the supporters and opposers.
- In the bottom cells, detail the events that came as a result of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
- In each cell, create an illustration relating to what you detailed with appropriate characters, scenes, and items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
How Tos about Significance of The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854
Engage students with a debate on the Kansas-Nebraska Act's impact
Debates encourage critical thinking and help students understand multiple perspectives. Organize groups to represent pro-slavery and anti-slavery viewpoints from the era. Give each side time to prepare arguments based on historical facts, then moderate a respectful debate. This active learning builds engagement and historical empathy.
Assign roles and prepare students with background research
Assign each student or group a specific historical figure or faction (such as Stephen Douglas, a Northern Whig, or a Free-soiler). Provide short readings or resources so they can research their assigned perspective. This ensures students are well-prepared and understand the motivations behind each side.
Set clear debate rules and structure
Explain the debate format, including time limits for speeches and rebuttals. Set ground rules for respectful discussion and active listening. Post the structure on the board so students know what to expect and feel comfortable participating.
Facilitate the debate and encourage student-led discussion
Act as a moderator to keep the discussion on track and ensure all voices are heard. Pose thought-provoking questions and invite students to respond directly to each other's points. This helps students practice civic discussion skills and develop their own opinions.
Reflect on key takeaways and connect to present-day issues
After the debate, lead a reflection session where students share what they learned. Ask them to consider how the controversies around the Kansas-Nebraska Act relate to modern debates about states’ rights and federal authority. This step helps students make meaningful connections and reinforces the lesson's relevance.
Frequently Asked Questions about Significance of The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854
What was the main purpose of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854?
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 aimed to organize the Nebraska territory and allow settlers in Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery through popular sovereignty. This act effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise, increasing tensions over the expansion of slavery.
How did the Kansas-Nebraska Act lead to Bleeding Kansas?
The act's use of popular sovereignty drew both pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups to Kansas to influence the state's future. This competition led to violent confrontations, known as Bleeding Kansas, as each side tried to assert control over the territory.
What is the Frayer Model and how can it help students understand the Kansas-Nebraska Act?
The Frayer Model is a graphic organizer that helps students break down a concept by defining it, listing characteristics, examples, and non-examples. For the Kansas-Nebraska Act, it can help students visually organize its aims, supporters, resulting events, and key figures.
Who supported and who opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act?
Supporters of the act included Southern Democrats and some Northern Democrats, while opposers were mainly Northern Whigs and those who would form the Republican Party. The act intensified sectional divisions over slavery.
What events resulted from the Kansas-Nebraska Act?
The act led to several significant events, including Bleeding Kansas, the Pottawatomie Massacre led by John Brown, the Dred Scott decision, and debates over the Lecompton Constitution. These events increased national tensions around slavery.
More Storyboard That Activities
1850s America
- Map of Nebraska and Kansas Territories, 1854 • The U.S. National Archives • License No known copyright restrictions (http://flickr.com/commons/usage/)
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