Compromise Of 1850 Dbq
t the time when the United States was a new nation, there were a number of issues that needed to be addressed in order for the Union of states to become a working country. In a short period, the North had become more progressive and industrialized. There were larger urban populations and the issues that faced northern areas were different from those that faced the South. When new territories were added to the nation, it was politically relevant that they were added in such a way that the balance of power was maintained. The Compromise of 1850 addressed this balance. The Compromise was a group of five laws that addressed slavery and overturned the Missouri Compromise. The climate of the time quickly becomes one of the northern states against
the southern states, slavery against abolition. Slavery was part of a unique way of life concentrated in the South. The slaves represented a substantial investment for slave owners and a moral dilemma for others. Some states allowed slavery while others did not. States allowing slavery were geographically close to states that did not allow slavery and because of this proximity, there was bound to be difficulties with slaves making their escape to states that were considered to be “free” states. Like most legal issues, capture of slaves was a painful process. Under protection of the 1793 retrieval laws, most of the burden was placed upon the slave owner to recapture his property. As part of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act, many aspects of the burden of retrieval were placed upon the federal government. There were significant penalties and fines instituted against those who assisted slaves. Alleged slaves could not testify on their own behalf and were not provided constitutional rights. Many free African Americans migrated to Canada in search of freedom. The African American population in Canada swelled during this period. To maintain the tenuous peace in the nation, the Compromise of 1850 allows California to be admitted to the nation as a free state, prohibits the slave trade in Washington D.C. and sees Texas lose the boundary dispute with New Mexico. For those concessions by the North, the South will not have slavery restrictions in Utah or New Mexico, will be allowed to have slaves in Washington D.C., sees Texas awarded $10 million as a result of the New Mexico boundary dispute, and gains the protection of the Fugitive Slave Law. Ultimately, the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act increased the resolve of abolitionists to eradicate slavery in America.
the southern states, slavery against abolition. Slavery was part of a unique way of life concentrated in the South. The slaves represented a substantial investment for slave owners and a moral dilemma for others. Some states allowed slavery while others did not. States allowing slavery were geographically close to states that did not allow slavery and because of this proximity, there was bound to be difficulties with slaves making their escape to states that were considered to be “free” states. Like most legal issues, capture of slaves was a painful process. Under protection of the 1793 retrieval laws, most of the burden was placed upon the slave owner to recapture his property. As part of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act, many aspects of the burden of retrieval were placed upon the federal government. There were significant penalties and fines instituted against those who assisted slaves. Alleged slaves could not testify on their own behalf and were not provided constitutional rights. Many free African Americans migrated to Canada in search of freedom. The African American population in Canada swelled during this period. To maintain the tenuous peace in the nation, the Compromise of 1850 allows California to be admitted to the nation as a free state, prohibits the slave trade in Washington D.C. and sees Texas lose the boundary dispute with New Mexico. For those concessions by the North, the South will not have slavery restrictions in Utah or New Mexico, will be allowed to have slaves in Washington D.C., sees Texas awarded $10 million as a result of the New Mexico boundary dispute, and gains the protection of the Fugitive Slave Law. Ultimately, the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act increased the resolve of abolitionists to eradicate slavery in America.