Did You Know? The Compromise of 1850

The Compromise of 1850 was a series of legislative measures aimed at resolving disputes over slavery in the US. It addressed the admission of new states and territories, with California entering as a free state and Texas ceding land for New Mexico and Utah, where settlers would decide on slavery. The Compromise also introduced a stronger Fugitive Slave Act, which was unpopular in the North. Despite its intentions, the Compromise only deepened divisions between free and slave states, setting the stage for the Civil War.

What was the main goal of the Compromise of 1850?

• To strengthen the federal government

• To abolish slavery in all states

• To resolve regional disputes over slavery

• To expand the United States' territory

Which concept did the pro-slavery coalition support regarding state laws on slavery?

• Federal sovereignty

• Popular sovereignty

• Judicial review

• State nullification

What was a significant outcome of the Compromise of 1850 regarding California?

• California was admitted as a slave state

• California was divided into two states

• California was admitted as a free state

• California remained a territory

What did the Fugitive Slave Act require from the federal government?

• To abolish slavery in the North

• To provide compensation to slave owners

• To assist in the recapture of escaped enslaved people

• To establish new slave markets

What was a long-term effect of the Compromise of 1850?

• It led to the Civil War

• It resolved all slavery-related issues

• It abolished slavery in the South

• It strengthened the Union