What does popular sovereignty mean?

Popular sovereignty, also called squatter sovereignty, in U.S. history, a controversial political doctrine according to which the people of federal territories should decide for themselves whether their territories would enter the Union as free or slave states.

When did popular sovereignty start?

1840s
First promoted in the 1840s in response to debates over western expansion, popular sovereignty argued that in a democracy, residents of a territory, and not the federal government, should be allowed to decide on slavery within their borders.

What was popular sovereignty in 1850?

Popular sovereignty was the political doctrine that the people who lived in a region should determine for themselves the nature of their government. Popular sovereignty was invoked in the Compromise of 1850 and later in the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854).

How does popular sovereignty relate to slavery?

The idea of popular sovereignty as it pertains to the extension of slavery to the territories in the antebellum era was a political concept that allowed the residents of the territories themselves, rather than Congress, to determine whether to permit or prohibit slavery.

How to use popular sovereignty in a sentence?

1 : a doctrine in political theory that government is created by and subject to the will of the people 2 : a pre-Civil War doctrine asserting the right of the people living in a newly organized territory to decide by vote of their territorial legislature whether or not slavery would be permitted there Examples of popular sovereignty in a Sentence

What are the five principles of popular sovereignty?

Popular sovereignty grew in popularity to such a point that the Founding Fathers included it in the U.S. Constitution, making it one of the six fundamental principles on which the Constitution is built. The other five principles include limited government, separation of powers, federalism, judicial review, and checks and balances.

Can a republic be based on popular sovereignty?

Republics and popular monarchies is theoretically based on popular sovereignty. However, a legalistic notion of popular sovereignty does not necessarily imply an effective, functioning democracy: a party or even an individual dictator may claim to represent the will of the people, and rule in its name, pretending to detain auctoritas.

What was the principle of p opular sovereignty?

The principle of p opular sovereignty departed from the doctrine of the Divine Rights of Kings which was widely practiced before and during this period. It was later taken up by John Locke in his social contract theory. Centuries later, popular sovereignty would become a key founding principle of the United States of America.