US History › Section G · Reform and a decade of crisis › Topic G.5
The Compromise of 1850
Victory over Mexico handed the United States a vast new territory and an old question: would slavery spread into it? The Compromise of 1850 held the Union together for a few more years, but its new fugitive slave law turned many northerners against slavery.
In this topic
- The problem of the Mexican Cession
- California forces the issue
- Clay's proposals and the great debate
- Douglas passes the compromise
- Worked example: who won in 1850?
- The Fugitive Slave Act
- The Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman
- Resistance in the North
- Uncle Tom's Cabin
- Worked example: using a novel as evidence
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
This topic is part of Wuanberri Pro. Checking your access…