squatter sovereignty

American  

noun

U.S. History.

1. (used contemptuously by its opponents) popular sovereignty.

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squatter sovereignty British  

noun

1. a derogatory term for popular sovereignty

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Etymology

Origin of squatter sovereignty

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55

Example Sentences

“Then opened the roar of loose declaration in favor of 'Squatter Sovereignty.’

From Literature

Next came Mr. Douglas, who lost the support of the Southern Democrats by his advocacy of the doctrine of "squatter sovereignty," as it was called, which was in effect, although not in form, as hostile to the decision of the Supreme Court in the Dred Scott case as the seventh resolution of the Chicago Convention itself.

From Project Gutenberg

It was the golden age of the amateur, when certainty could be had for the asking, and one could stake out any part of the wide domain of human interest and hold it by the right of squatter sovereignty.

From Project Gutenberg

Douglas, knowing the power of the Emigrant Aid Societies, proposes squatter sovereignty, with the positive certainty that the scum of Europe and the mudsills of Yankeedom can be shipped in in numbers sufficient to control the destiny of the embryo State.

From Project Gutenberg

So it happened that about noon of the day Curley lost his life six men met in the shadow cast by the front of the "Rawhide" a hundred yards from Quinn's, and exercised squatter sovereignty on the bench just outside the door, while inside the saloon Big Sandy and Nevada played cards close to the bar and talked in low tones.

From Project Gutenberg