Compromise of 1850

The Compromise of 1850, in the history of the United States, was a series of Congressional legislative measures addressing slavery and the boundaries of territories acquired during the Mexican-American War

Issues

Texas

The main impetus for the Compromise of 1850 was the dispute over the western boundary of Texas. The Republic of Texas, which had seceded from Mexico, and which had been admitted to the United States after the Mexican war as the State of Texas, claimed as its own all of the land east of the Rio Grande river, including Santa Fe, despite the fact that the Mexican state of Texas had used the Nueces River as its western boundary.

Related Topics:
Texas - Republic of Texas - Mexico - United States - State of Texas - Rio Grande - Santa Fe - Nueces River

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Furthermore, New Mexico sought United States territorial status with its capital in Santa Fe, but Texas decleared it would use force to enforce its claim to the land. U.S. President Taylor was equally adamant that he would use Federal troops of the U.S. military to prevent the State of Texas from taking possession of New Mexico, and this looming threat of armed conflict drove the Compromise.

Related Topics:
New Mexico - United States territorial - Santa Fe - Taylor

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

California

Another main issue was California's statehood. Settlers who had flocked to California after the discovery of gold in 1848 adopted an antislavery state constitution on the 13 October 1849, and applied for admission into the Union as a free state. The admission of California would disturb the longtime balance between free and slave states in the Senate. The question was whether to accept California's admission as a free state.

Related Topics:
California - 1848 - 13 October - 1849

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Wilmot Proviso and the remaining Mexican War territories

No territorial government had been formed for the remainder of the territory acquired from Mexico, including that of present-day Nevada, Utah, and parts of Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. The proposed Wilmot Proviso, which would ban slavery in all federal territories, would have been applied to these areas. The Proviso was supported by Northerners and detested by Southerners who believed it infringed on their equal rights in the Union, but was almost totally symbolic, as few Southerners actually intended to take their slaves into land that was still regarded as economically unsuitable for slavery.

Related Topics:
Mexico - Nevada - Utah - Wyoming - Colorado - Arizona - New Mexico - Wilmot Proviso

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Slave Trade and Fugitive Slave Law

The two questions not growing out of the Mexican War were in regard to the abolition of the slave trade in the District of Columbia, and to the passage of a new fugitive slave law.

Related Topics:
District of Columbia - Fugitive slave law

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~