Legal Document

For most people, there are a lot of things that are way more fun to read than Congressional Acts. Novels, for example, graphic and otherwise. Song lyrics, essays, poems, news articles, the ingredient list on a pack of Fig Newtons…

Yep, most things are more entertaining to read than federal legislation.

But "more entertaining" doesn't always translate into "more important." And there are few things, if any, that are more important than the laws that govern our lives. In 1854, just like today, legislation wasn't written to be enjoyed. It was written to be clear, thorough, and more serious than a suit on casual Friday.

Nailed it, Kansas-Nebraska Act. From the first eighteen sections lining out Territory Nebraska, to the next eighteen sections detailing Territory Kansas, to the government-Indian relations grand finale, this act is nothing if not somber and official.

Maybe the 33rd Congress figured there was enough excitement in the new territories without them throwing anything else in the mix.

How it Breaks Down

Section 1: Nebraska Territory Assembly Manual (Sections 1-18)

The first part of this act is all…about…Nebraska.

Geographical boundaries, responsibilities of the various branches of government, adherence to the Constitution and other federal laws, spending and infrastructure, election and voting rules: all of this and more is described in great detail in the first almost-half of this document.

Section 2: We're Not in Nebraska Anymore (Sections 19-36)

The basic gist of this section is this: Everything we said about Nebraska goes for Kansas too. Except the geographical boundaries, those are different. And the capital city. That's different too. But everything else? Samesies.

Section 3: And To Reiterate… (Section 37)

Territorial relations with Native American tribes get a brief shoutout in Sections 1 and 18, but the subject is revisited in the final section of the act. Its purpose is basically to let both of the new territories know that all "treaties, laws, and other engagements" between the U.S. and Indian tribes still hold and will be observed (37.1).

You know, just in case Kansas and Nebraska started getting any funny ideas.