jan 1, 1850 - Compromise of 1850

Description:

Context: Gold Rush in 1849, California suddenly has a large enough population for statehood, but no other states do (cannot maintain the free-slave state balance?)

• California is made a free state
• New Mexico would use Popular Sovereignty
• Abolished slave trade in Washington D.C.
• Stricter fugitive slave laws


Purpose: to put an end to agitation concerning slavery
Affect: fired up the two sides even more



RACE
• Senate balance upended
• Wilmot proviso (failed)
– banning slavery in all the Mexican cession territory
• Another federal attempt to restrict slavery
• Popular sovereignty
• Strengthened fugitive slave laws
• Abolition of slave trade in D.C.





Agreement designed to ease tensions caused by the expansion of slavery into western territories.

Leaders:
Henry Clay

Provisions:
California entered the Union as a free state.
The Fugitive Slave Law was strengthened.
The slave trade was banned in Washington, DC.
Land taken from Mexico would be divided into two new territories - New Mexico and Utah - with the slavery question determined by popular sovereignty.

Added to timeline:

Date: