Civil War and Reconstruction- The Compromise of 1850 Flashcards
What were the key provisions of the Compromise of 1850? (5)
The Compromise of 1850 consisted of five main provisions:
California was admitted as a free state.
The Fugitive Slave Act was strengthened, requiring federal authorities to help capture runaway slaves.
The slave trade was abolished in Washington D.C., but slavery itself continued.
The Texas-New Mexico boundary dispute was settled in favor of New Mexico, with Texas receiving $10 million in compensation.
The territories of Utah and New Mexico were given the right to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty.
How did the Compromise of 1850 attempt to balance the interests of the North and South? (5)
The Compromise of 1850 tried to balance the North and South by:
Admitting California as a free state, benefiting the North.
Enacting a stronger Fugitive Slave Act, benefiting the South.
Abolishing the slave trade in Washington D.C., a modest concession to the North.
Resolving the Texas-New Mexico boundary dispute in favor of New Mexico but compensating Texas, satisfying Southern interests.
Allowing Utah and New Mexico to decide the slavery issue through popular sovereignty, which seemed fair to both regions but later caused conflict.
What role did the Fugitive Slave Act play in the sectional conflict between the North and South? (3)
The Fugitive Slave Act played a central role in escalating sectional conflict by compelling Northern states and citizens to assist in the capture of runaway slaves.
Many Northerners found the law morally objectionable and refused to comply, leading to the passage of “personal liberty laws” to obstruct its enforcement.
The law intensified the divide between the North and South, fostering greater animosity toward each other.
Why did the Fugitive Slave Act provoke backlash in the North? (3)
The Fugitive Slave Act provoked backlash in the North because it required Northern citizens to assist in the capture and return of runaway slaves, violating many Northerners’ moral beliefs about slavery.
Additionally, it denied accused runaway slaves the right to a trial by jury, making it difficult for them to defend themselves.
This led to widespread resistance, including the actions of the Underground Railroad and the passage of personal liberty laws in several Northern states.
What was popular sovereignty, and how did it relate to the Compromise of 1850? (2)
Popular sovereignty was the principle that allowed the people living in a territory to decide for themselves whether to permit slavery.
The Compromise of 1850 applied popular sovereignty to the Utah and New Mexico territories.
How did popular sovereignty contribute to the violence in Kansas in the 1850s? (2)
Popular sovereignty led to violence in Kansas because both pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups rushed to the territory to influence the vote on slavery.
This competition to control the outcome of the vote resulted in violent clashes, known as “Bleeding Kansas,” which demonstrated the instability and divisiveness of popular sovereignty as a solution to the slavery issue.
What was the Free-Soil Party, and how did it influence the political landscape leading up to the Compromise of 1850? (3)
The Free-Soil Party was formed in 1848 by anti-slavery members of the Whig and Democratic parties who were frustrated with the lack of action on the slavery issue.
The party’s main goal was to prevent the expansion of slavery into the new territories.
Its formation highlighted the growing divide over slavery, which the Compromise of 1850 attempted to address, particularly through the provisions of popular sovereignty.
What were the economic and moral concerns of the North and South regarding the Compromise of 1850?
Economic concerns: The North was concerned that the expansion of slavery into new territories would create an economic system that would compete with free labor and hinder the growth of free-state economies. The South wanted to ensure that slavery could expand into new territories to protect their agricultural economy.
Moral concerns: Many in the North viewed slavery as morally wrong, and they strongly opposed the Fugitive Slave Act. Southerners feared the loss of political and economic power if slavery was not allowed to expand.
How did the Compromise of 1850 impact the political balance of power between the North and South? (2)
The Compromise of 1850 shifted the balance of power toward the North by admitting California as a free state, tipping the Senate in favor of free states.
However, it also addressed Southern concerns with the stronger Fugitive Slave Act and popular sovereignty. Despite these provisions, the admission of free states continued without corresponding slave states, which increasingly worried the South about their diminishing political influence.
Why did some Southerners oppose the Compromise of 1850 despite its concessions? (3)
Some Southerners opposed the Compromise of 1850 because they felt that it did not go far enough to protect their interests, especially regarding the expansion of slavery.
They were concerned that the balance of power was shifting in favor of free states with the admission of California.
Additionally, while the Fugitive Slave Act was a concession, some Southern leaders believed the compromises did not adequately ensure the long-term protection of slavery.
How did the Compromise of 1850 affect the institution of slavery in Washington D.C.? (3)
The Compromise of 1850 abolished the slave trade (but not slavery) in Washington D.C.
This provision was a modest victory for the North, as it represented a step toward limiting the spread of slavery.
However, slavery continued to exist in the nation’s capital, and the change did not end slavery itself.
How did the admission of California as a free state affect the South’s political power?
The admission of California as a free state upset the balance of power in the Senate by tipping it in favor of free states.
What was the significance of the Texas-New Mexico boundary dispute in the context of the Compromise of 1850? (3)
The Texas-New Mexico boundary dispute was resolved in favor of New Mexico as part of the Compromise of 1850.
Texas was compensated with $10 million for its loss of territory.
This provision was important to the South because it settled the dispute without allowing slavery to spread into New Mexico, while also compensating Texas, which was a slave state.
What role did Henry Clay play in the creation of the Compromise of 1850? (2)
Henry Clay was a leading architect of the Compromise of 1850. He proposed the series of measures that became the compromise, working to address both Northern and Southern concerns.
How did the California Gold Rush influence the political crisis surrounding the Compromise of 1850?
The California Gold Rush of 1849 led to a massive influx of settlers into California, prompting the state to apply for admission to the Union as a free state. This created a political crisis because it threatened to disrupt the balance between free and slave states, which directly influenced the creation of the Compromise of 1850 to address this issue and maintain the Union.
What was the Ostend Manifesto, and how did it relate to the Compromise of 1850? (3)
The Ostend Manifesto was a document drafted by Southern expansionists advocating for the United States to acquire Cuba from Spain, believing it would help extend slavery.
It provoked anger in Northern politicians and heightened tensions between the North and South.
While not directly part of the Compromise of 1850, it reflected the growing sectional divide over slavery and expansion in the 1850s.
