The Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Birth of the Republican Party, 1854-55

Explore the pivotal political events of the 1850s in this 48-minute lecture from Yale University's "The Civil War and Reconstruction" course. Delve into the Compromise of 1850, northern opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act, and the impact of Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Examine the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 and its role in catalyzing the birth of the Republican Party. Learn about key figures like Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John C. Calhoun, and understand the complexities surrounding slavery in the capital, Texas, and the Underground Railroad. Analyze the case of Anthony Burns and the development of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Gain insights into the political landscape that set the stage for the Civil War through this comprehensive exploration of 1850s American history.