Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

squatter-sovereignty

Noun

/ˈskwɒtə sɒvərənti/

Definition

A political doctrine asserting that settlers in a territory have the right to determine whether that territory should be free or slave state.

Examples

The concept of squatter-sovereignty was pivotal during the Kansas-Nebraska Act debates.
Advocates of squatter-sovereignty argued that local settlers should govern their own affairs.

Meaning

This term is often associated with the period leading up to the American Civil War, where the rights of settlers regarding slavery in new territories were hotly debated.