As the slavery debate in the Nebraska and Kansas territories became particularly acrimonious, Illinois Senator Stephen A. Douglas proposed popular sovereignty as a compromise; the measure would allow the electorate of each territory to decide the status of slavery.
æz ðə slˈeɪvɚɹi dᵻbˈeɪt ɪnðə nəbɹˈæskə ænd kˈænzəs tˈɛɹɪtˌoːɹiz bɪkˌeɪm pɚtˈɪkjʊlɚli ˌækɹɪmˈoʊniəs, ˌɪlənˈɔɪ sˈɛnəɾɚ stˈiːvən ˈeɪ. dˈʌɡləz pɹəpˈoʊzd pˈɑːpjʊlɚ sˈɑːvɚɹˌɪnti æz ɐ kˈɑːmpɹəmˌaɪz; ðə mˈɛʒɚ wʊd ɐlˈaʊ ðɪ ᵻlˈɛktɚɹˌeɪt ʌv ˈiːtʃ tˈɛɹɪtˌoːɹi tə dᵻsˈaɪd ðə stˈæɾəs ʌv slˈeɪvɚɹi.