Compromise of 1850

Compromise of 1850

Political issues

The territory gained from the US/Mexican War raised new political issues in Texas and in the United States. 

Southerners wanted the newly gained territories open to slavery. 

Many Northerners objected to that idea. There was also a question of the Texas border with New Mexico.

Texas claimed about half of what is now New Mexico, including the city of Santa Fe. The people there did not want to be part of Texas. 

Also, many Northerners feared that the Texans would introduce slavery into the area.

Multiple Choice

True or False?

Southerners wanted the newly gained territory from the Mexican Cession open to slavery.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False?

Northerners feared that Texans would not introduce slavery into the area.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False?

Most northerners were against slavery while southerners favored slavery.

• True

• False

Solution..

• After much debate, Congress worked out a solution called the Compromise of 1850.

• In this agreement, California would be admitted into the U.S. as a free, or non-slave state.

•   The voters in the remaining territory of the Mexican Cession would be allowed to decide the issue of slavery for themselves.

Multiple Choice

True or False?

The territory of the Mexican Cession would decide if they would allow or not allow slavery themselves.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False?

The state of California was entered as a free state.

• True

• False

Texas role...

As part of the Compromise, the Texas-New Mexico Boundary Act was adopted, in which Texas agreed to give up part of its territory to New Mexico.

Land in this territory included the western and northern territory of Texas, setting the western boundary of Texas. Texas received $10million which would be used to pay off the Texas public debt. 

This Act also settled the border disagreement between Texas and New Mexico. 

Multiple Choice

True or False?

The Compromise of 1850 settled the border disagreement between Texas and New Mexico.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False?

The Texas- New Mexico Boundary Act stated that Texas would receive $5 million dollars which Texas would use to pay of its debt.

• True

• False

More land please...

          

In 1852 Franklin Pierce was elected president of the United States. 

The following year, he arranged to negotiate the purchase of a small section of Mexican land along the southern border of New Mexico and Arizona.

The United States planned to use the land for a railroad to the Pacific Ocean.

Gadsden Purchase

• James Gadsden, the US minister to Mexico, carried out the deal. The United States purchased this area that became known as the Gadsden Purchase.

• The purchase finalized the boundary between the United States and the country of Mexico.  

Multiple Choice

True or False?

The Compromise of 1850 allowed the United States to continue fulfilling its belief in Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion.

• True

• False