bryybryy8Lv1

6 Nov 2022

In 1849, when California applied for statehood, there was an equal number of slave and free states, both at 15 states each. Adding California would disturb that balance. The Compromise of 1850 allowed California to be admitted as a free state, and Utah and New Mexico territories would be allowed to use popular sovereignty to determine if they would be free or slave states. The slave trade was also abolished in Washington, D.C., and the Fugitive Slave Law was put into place, which required runaway slaves to be returned to their owners in the south.

1. What does the term popular sovereignty mean in this context?

2. How did the Compromise of 1850 increase tensions between the North and South?

3. Why was the Fugitive Slave Act a problem for many Northerners?

 

Legislative Item	Victory for? (North, South, or Both)
California admitted to the Union as a free state	Clear victory for _______
Popular sovereignty to determine slavery issue in Utah and New Mexico territories	Moderate victory for _______
Slave trade, but not slavery itself, abolished in the District of Columbia	Moderate victory for _______
New, stricter Fugitive Slave Act	Clear victory for _______