The Compromise of 1850 consisted of several provisions aimed at resolving the issue of slavery and its expansion into new territories. The five main provisions of the Compromise of 1850 were:
1. California's admission as a free state: Under the compromise, California was admitted to the Union as a free state, prohibiting slavery within its borders.
2. Division of the Mexican Cession: The territory acquired from Mexico during the Mexican-American War was divided into Utah and New Mexico territories. The question of whether these territories would allow slavery would be decided by popular sovereignty, allowing the residents to vote on the issue.
3. Texas boundary set: The boundary dispute between Texas and New Mexico was resolved, with Texas giving up its claims to land in exchange for financial compensation.
4. Fugitive Slave Act: The compromise included a strengthened Fugitive Slave Act, which required citizens to assist in the capture and return of escaped slaves. This provision was highly controversial and outraged many Northerners.
5. Slave trade abolished in Washington, D.C.: The slave trade, but not slavery itself, was abolished in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C.
These provisions attempted to strike a balance between the interests of the North and the South, but ultimately did not fully resolve the issue or prevent the imminent outbreak of the American Civil War.
list the five provisions of the compromise of 1850
1 answer