jan 29, 1850 - Compromise of 1850

Description:

Key Event: The Compromise of 1850 is a key event because it demonstrates the efforts the government put into pleasing the opposing political sides were unsuccessful, causing the split of the Union.

Defined: Territories acquired in the Mexican-American War would be allowed to practice popular sovereignty, and there was fear that if any of the territories joined as a state, the balance between slave states and free states would be uneven. The fugitive slave law was also passed in the compromised, requiring Northerners to return runaway slaves. Northerners were upset because they had supported the emancipation of slaves.

Described: Pro-slavery and anti-slavery supporters were unable to agree on the divisions over slavery in territory gained from the Mexican-American war. Thus, the “Great Compromiser”, Henry Clay, had formulated the Compromise of 1850 in hopes of reducing tensions between Northerners and Southerners.

Short Term: Northerners gain an advantage in the Senate due to the addition of California, upsetting Southerners. However, the Fugitive Slave Law which pleased Southerners had caused rage amongst Northerners, as they thought the law was unfair.

Long Term: Due to the Fugitive Slave Law, the Compromise of 1850 is considered as one of the contributing factors to the Civil War, where thousands of Americans would die due to geographical political differences.

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