Question

What was the ability of a territory to decide the slavery issue for itself called

Answer 1

The ability of a territory to decide the slavery issue for itself was called "popular sovereignty." This concept was notably applied during the debates over the expansion of slavery into new territories in the United States, particularly during the 1850s. The principle suggested that the residents of a territory should have the right to determine whether to allow slavery or not, rather than having that decision made by Congress. Popular sovereignty was a key element in compromises such as the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854.