Essay On The Compromise Of 1850

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The Compromise of 1850 was signed into law in September of 1850. This compromise was created to resolve tension over slavery. The compromise stated that California would be admitted as a free state, the slave trade was banned in Washington DC, the Fugitive Slave Law was strengthened, and slavery in the Utah and New Mexico territories would be up to popular sovereignty. The Compromise of 1850 was a major cause of the Civil War because both Southerners and Northerners were unhappy with the results, the Fugitive Slave Law was rejected by Northerners, and it did not fully resolve many issues that it addressed. To begin with, both Northerners and Southerners were unhappy with the results of the compromise. While many aspects of the compromise …show more content…
The compromise simply postponed these issues. This is mainly a problem with issues such as the slave trade and slavery in the territories. The slave trade was prohibited in the capital, however slavery was still permitted. This shows how the problem of slavery, especially in Washington D.C., was only partially solved. The problem of slavery in the territories was also only partially solved, as the government avoided the issue by leaving the decision up to popular sovereignty. This angered both the North and South, as they wanted the government to make an executive decision on slavery. As an article explains, “The compromise enabled Congress to avoid sectional and slavery issues for several years” (“Compromise” 2). This shows how the compromise did not permanently solve these issues. Overall, as the Compromise of 1850 Heritage Society states, “Views from the North and South were polarized but the Compromise of 1850 made them reach a temporary political equilibrium.” (“Effects and Significance” 1) To summarize, the Compromise of 1850 was a major cause of the Civil War. While it resolved some issues, these solutions were only temporary. This compromise was a major cause of the war because many people from both the North and South were unhappy, the North didn’t enforce the Fugitive Slave Law, and issues were not fully