MTTC Social Studies 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The Kansas-Nebraska Act, enacted in 1854, was significant in American history because it introduced the concept of popular sovereignty, which allowed the residents of the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders. This act effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise, which had previously established a geographical boundary for the expansion of slavery. The Kansas-Nebraska Act led to intense conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers in these territories, a period often referred to as "Bleeding Kansas," which further escalated tensions leading up to the Civil War.

The other options refer to different legislative acts: the Missouri Compromise established the 36°30′ parallel as the dividing line for slavery, the Compromise of 1850 included various components to ease sectional tensions but did not specifically allow for territories to choose on slavery, and the Fugitive Slave Act imposed strict measures for the return of runaway slaves but did not focus on territorial rights concerning slavery.