The Compromise of 1850

The Compromise of 1850

Why territorial expansion mattered

• Since the Missouri Compromise 1820, new states had been admitted on rotating basis - free state, slave state, free state, slave state etc. 

• This kept the the # of free and slave states equal.

• The North had a majority of votes in the House of Representatives due to its larger population.

• The South was powerless to stop bills from passing in the House.  However, the South had equality in the Senate. 

Open Ended

Consider the Wilmot Proviso for a moment. Then explain why it was so important for the Southern states to maintain equality in the Senate. Meaning having the same number of senators as the north.

Answer

They could prevent bills like the hated Wilmot Proviso 1846 from becoming laws. 

The Free Soil Party

• Third Party formed 1848  Northerners dedicated to stopping the spread of slavery in western territories. 

• Free Soilers were NOT abolitionists (they did not want to abolish slavery in the South) 

• Free Soilers wanted to ban slavery in western territories for economic reasons 

• They did not want job competition  from slaves. 

Poll

Popular Sovereignty

The Idea of letting the people of a western territory decide for themselves whether or not to permit slavery.

was this a good or bad thing?

• Yes, leave Congress out of it

• No, it is only going to cause more problems

• I'm not sure yet

The California Gold Rush

• Gold discovered 1848

• 100,000 settlers flocked to California 1849

• California applied for admission to the Union 1850

• They applied as a Free State. 

• The next state was supposed to be a slave state. 

• Southerners were outraged. They threatened war  

Multiple Choice

The San Francisco 49ers football team is named after the California Gold Rush

• True

• False

Other Issues dividing the country

The Underground Railroad

Multiple Select

Which of the following was true in 1850?

• It was legal to own slaves in Washington D.C.

• Slaves could be auctioned (bought and sold) in Washington D.C.

• None of above

Civil War looms

In 1850, Southerners threatened to secede from the Union is California was admitted to the Union as a Free State.

To secede means to withdraw. Do not confuse the word secede with the word succeed (to win)

President Zachary Taylor

Threatened to crush the South if they tried

Then Taylor suddenly died!

Open Ended

Only a compromise could save the country from Civil War.

When a compromise was needed, who you gonna call?

And don't say "Ghostbusters!"

The Compromise of 1850

was passed as 5 separate bills in Congress

Multiple Select

Part 1 - California was admitted as a free state

This was a victory for

• The North

• The South

• Both

Multiple Select

Part 2 - The slave trade was banned in D.C. but not slavery itself. You could no longer buy and sell slaves, but you could still own them.

This was a victory for the

• North

• South

• Both

Multiple Select

Part 3 - A Strict Fugitive slave law was passed. Anyone helping runaway slaves would not be fined $1,000

This was a victory for

• The North

• The South

• Both

Multiple Select

Part 4 - The Utah and New Mexico territories were formed and popular sovereignty was applied to both

This was a victory for the

• North

• South

• Both

Multiple Select

Part 5 - Texas gave up disputed land to the New Mexico Territory in exchange for having its debts paid by the US government.

This was a victory for

• The North

• The South

• Who cares, it's Texas

Open Ended

In your opinion, who got the better deal in the Compromise of 1850, the North or South and why?