Question

What were the political accomplishments of Senator Stephen A. Douglas and their impact on American history?

a) He championed the Compromise of 1850, which delayed the Civil War.
b) He proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, allowing territories to decide on slavery, heightening sectional tensions.
c) He won the presidential election of 1860, unifying the country before the Civil War.
d) He played a significant role in drafting the Emancipation Proclamation, leading to the end of slavery.

Answer 1

Senator Stephen A. Douglas proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed the territories to decide on slavery and ultimately heightened sectional tensions. This act nullified the Missouri Compromise and potentially allowed slavery in Kansas and Nebraska.

Step-by-step explanation:

Senator Stephen A. Douglas had significant political accomplishments that had a profound impact on American history. One of his major achievements was the proposal of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This act allowed the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide on the issue of slavery, which heightened sectional tensions and ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War. The act also nullified the Missouri Compromise and potentially allowed slavery in these territories.