The era of the Compromise of 1850 refers to the period in American history from around 1849 to 1854, during which the United States faced intense debates and conflicts over issues relating to slavery and territorial expansion.
Related terms
Fugitive Slave Act: This law required all citizens to assist in capturing and returning escaped slaves.
Kansas-Nebraska Act: This act allowed settlers in Kansas and Nebraska territories to decide whether they wanted slavery through popular sovereignty.
Dred Scott Decision: A Supreme Court ruling that stated enslaved Africans or their descendants could not be U.S. citizens and therefore had no rights under U.S. law.