An act of Congress written by [[Stephen Douglas]] in 1854, establishing the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to open new land for settlement and facilitate the building of a [[Transcontinental Railroad]]. Facing resistance from southerners led by Missouri Senator [[David R. Atchison]], Douglas (with support from President [[Franklin Pierce]]) added a repeal of the [[Missouri Compromise]] and an adoption of [[Popular Sovereignty]] for the territories. The scramble to influence the vote on [[Slavery|slavery]] led to [[Bleeding Kansas]].