What Was The Goal Of The Compromise Of 1850?A. Allow Slavery To Be Determined By The State. B. Abolish Slavery By Compensating Slave Owners. C. Push The Vote To Abolish Slavery To 1860. D. Determine Which Territories Would Be Free Or Slave States.

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The Compromise of 1850 was a series of laws passed by the United States Congress in an attempt to address the issue of slavery in the newly acquired territories of the Mexican Cession. The compromise was a result of intense debate and negotiation between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, and it had significant implications for the future of the country.

Background to the Compromise

In 1846, the United States and Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War and resulted in the United States gaining control of a large amount of land, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. This new territory was a major point of contention between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, as it was unclear whether the new states would be free or slave.

The Provisions of the Compromise

The Compromise of 1850 consisted of five separate laws, which were designed to address the issue of slavery in the new territories. The provisions of the compromise were as follows:

  • The Fugitive Slave Act: This law required that all escaped slaves be returned to their owners, even if they were in free states. This provision was highly unpopular in the North, where many people saw it as an attempt to impose slavery on free states.
  • The Admission of California as a Free State: California was admitted to the Union as a free state, which gave the North a slight majority in the Senate.
  • The Admission of New Mexico as a Territory: New Mexico was admitted as a territory, which allowed it to decide for itself whether to allow slavery.
  • The Admission of Utah as a Territory: Utah was also admitted as a territory, which allowed it to decide for itself whether to allow slavery.
  • The Strengthening of the Fugitive Slave Act: The Fugitive Slave Act was strengthened, making it more difficult for people to escape from slavery.

The Goals of the Compromise

So, what was the goal of the Compromise of 1850? The answer is not as simple as it seems. While the compromise was designed to address the issue of slavery in the new territories, it was also a way for politicians to avoid taking a strong stance on the issue.

  • Allowing Slavery to be Determined by the State: One of the goals of the compromise was to allow each state to decide for itself whether to allow slavery. This was a compromise between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, as it allowed each state to make its own decision.
  • Abolishing Slavery by Compensating Slave Owners: Another goal of the compromise was to abolish slavery by compensating slave owners. However, this provision was not included in the final compromise.
  • Pushing the Vote to Abolish Slavery to 1860: Some historians have argued that the compromise was designed to push the vote to abolish slavery to 1860, when the next presidential election would take place. However, this is not supported by the evidence.
  • Determining Which Territories Would be Free or Slave States: The final goal of the compromise was to determine which territories would be free or slave states. This was achieved through the admission of California as a free state and the admission of New Mexico and Utah as territories.

The Impact of the Compromise

The Compromise of 1850 had significant implications for the future of the country. While it may have seemed like a compromise between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, it ultimately did little to address the issue of slavery.

  • Escalating Tensions: The compromise escalated tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, as many people saw it as an attempt to impose slavery on free states.
  • The Rise of the Republican Party: The compromise also contributed to the rise of the Republican Party, which was formed in 1854 with the goal of stopping the spread of slavery.
  • The Lead-Up to the Civil War: The compromise was a major factor in the lead-up to the Civil War, as it failed to address the issue of slavery and instead exacerbated tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions.

Conclusion

The Compromise of 1850 was a complex and multifaceted issue that had significant implications for the future of the country. While it may have seemed like a compromise between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, it ultimately did little to address the issue of slavery and instead escalated tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions. The compromise was a major factor in the lead-up to the Civil War, and its legacy continues to be felt today.

Key Takeaways

  • The Compromise of 1850 was a series of laws passed by the United States Congress in an attempt to address the issue of slavery in the newly acquired territories of the Mexican Cession.
  • The compromise consisted of five separate laws, including the Fugitive Slave Act, the Admission of California as a Free State, the Admission of New Mexico as a Territory, the Admission of Utah as a Territory, and the Strengthening of the Fugitive Slave Act.
  • The goals of the compromise were to allow each state to decide for itself whether to allow slavery, to abolish slavery by compensating slave owners, to push the vote to abolish slavery to 1860, and to determine which territories would be free or slave states.
  • The compromise had significant implications for the future of the country, including escalating tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, the rise of the Republican Party, and the lead-up to the Civil War.

References

  • "The Compromise of 1850" by the Library of Congress
  • "The Compromise of 1850" by the National Park Service
  • "The Compromise of 1850" by the Smithsonian Institution
  • "The Compromise of 1850" by the History Channel
    The Compromise of 1850: A Q&A Article =====================================

The Compromise of 1850 was a complex and multifaceted issue that had significant implications for the future of the country. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the Compromise of 1850.

Q: What was the main issue that the Compromise of 1850 was trying to address?

A: The main issue that the Compromise of 1850 was trying to address was the issue of slavery in the newly acquired territories of the Mexican Cession. The compromise was designed to determine whether these territories would be free or slave states.

Q: What were the five separate laws that made up the Compromise of 1850?

A: The five separate laws that made up the Compromise of 1850 were:

  1. The Fugitive Slave Act: This law required that all escaped slaves be returned to their owners, even if they were in free states.
  2. The Admission of California as a Free State: California was admitted to the Union as a free state, which gave the North a slight majority in the Senate.
  3. The Admission of New Mexico as a Territory: New Mexico was admitted as a territory, which allowed it to decide for itself whether to allow slavery.
  4. The Admission of Utah as a Territory: Utah was also admitted as a territory, which allowed it to decide for itself whether to allow slavery.
  5. The Strengthening of the Fugitive Slave Act: The Fugitive Slave Act was strengthened, making it more difficult for people to escape from slavery.

Q: What were the goals of the Compromise of 1850?

A: The goals of the Compromise of 1850 were to:

  1. Allow each state to decide for itself whether to allow slavery: This was a compromise between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, as it allowed each state to make its own decision.
  2. Abolish slavery by compensating slave owners: However, this provision was not included in the final compromise.
  3. Push the vote to abolish slavery to 1860: Some historians have argued that the compromise was designed to push the vote to abolish slavery to 1860, when the next presidential election would take place. However, this is not supported by the evidence.
  4. Determine which territories would be free or slave states: The final goal of the compromise was to determine which territories would be free or slave states.

Q: What were the consequences of the Compromise of 1850?

A: The consequences of the Compromise of 1850 were significant. The compromise:

  1. Escalated tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions: Many people saw the compromise as an attempt to impose slavery on free states, which escalated tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions.
  2. Contributed to the rise of the Republican Party: The compromise contributed to the rise of the Republican Party, which was formed in 1854 with the goal of stopping the spread of slavery.
  3. Led to the lead-up to the Civil War: The compromise was a major factor in the lead-up to the Civil War, as it failed to address the issue of slavery and instead exacerbated tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions.

Q: What were some of the key figures involved in the Compromise of 1850?

A: Some of the key figures involved in the Compromise of 1850 were:

  1. Henry Clay: Clay was a senator from Kentucky who played a key role in negotiating the compromise.
  2. Daniel Webster: Webster was a senator from Massachusetts who also played a key role in negotiating the compromise.
  3. Stephen A. Douglas: Douglas was a senator from Illinois who was a strong supporter of the compromise.
  4. John C. Calhoun: Calhoun was a senator from South Carolina who was a strong opponent of the compromise.

Q: What were some of the key events that led up to the Compromise of 1850?

A: Some of the key events that led up to the Compromise of 1850 were:

  1. The Mexican-American War: The Mexican-American War was a conflict between the United States and Mexico that resulted in the United States gaining control of a large amount of land, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming.
  2. The Wilmot Proviso: The Wilmot Proviso was a proposal that would have banned slavery in the new territories acquired from Mexico. The proposal was defeated in Congress, but it helped to escalate tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions.
  3. The Kansas-Nebraska Act: The Kansas-Nebraska Act was a law that allowed the residents of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery in their territories. The law was highly unpopular in the North, where many people saw it as an attempt to impose slavery on free states.

Q: What were some of the key events that followed the Compromise of 1850?

A: Some of the key events that followed the Compromise of 1850 were:

  1. The Dred Scott Decision: The Dred Scott Decision was a Supreme Court decision that ruled that slaves were not citizens and had no right to sue in court. The decision was highly unpopular in the North, where many people saw it as an attempt to impose slavery on free states.
  2. The John Brown Raid: The John Brown Raid was a raid on the federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia) that was led by abolitionist John Brown. The raid was an attempt to spark a slave rebellion, but it was ultimately unsuccessful.
  3. The Civil War: The Civil War was a conflict between the Union (the Northern states) and the Confederacy (the Southern states) that was fought from 1861 to 1865. The war was fought over the issue of slavery, and it ultimately resulted in the abolition of slavery in the United States.