The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 introduced the concept of popular sovereignty, allowing settlers in the Kansas and Nebraska territories to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery. This directly overturned the Missouri Compromise, which had established a geographical boundary (the 36°30' line) to limit the expansion of slavery into new territories. By enabling territories to choose their own status regarding slavery, the Kansas-Nebraska Act effectively nullified the restrictions set by the Missouri Compromise, leading to increased tensions and conflict over the issue of slavery in the West.
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