The Compromise of 1850 refers to a series of laws passed by the U.S. Congress in an attempt to resolve tensions between free and slave states during that time. It included provisions such as allowing California to enter the Union as a free state and implementing a stricter Fugitive Slave Act.
Related terms
Fugitive Slave Act: This act was part of the Compromise of 1850 and required all citizens, even those in free states, to assist in returning escaped slaves to their owners.
Popular Sovereignty: Popular sovereignty is the principle that allowed residents of territories like Kansas and Nebraska to vote on whether they would allow slavery within their borders.
Uncle Tom's Cabin: Uncle Tom's Cabin was a famous novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe that depicted the harsh realities of slavery, influencing public opinion and fueling abolitionist sentiments.