Provisions of the Compromise of 1850
The vast land deals and slavery issues were splitting the nation. The Compromise of 1850 bought another decade of peace before the Civil War broke out.
The initial bill was drafted by Henry Clay and contained all five provisions which failed to pass in Congress. Stephen Douglas took over after Clay fell ill, he separated the bill into individual bills, all of which were approved by a majority in September 1850.
The five provisions of the Compromise of 1850 were signed by President Fillmore.
- The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
- Slave trade in Washington DC. was abolished, but slave ownership continued.
- California was accepted in the Union as a free state.
- Governments in New Mexico and Utah were organized.
- Texas received 10 million dollars in exchange of land it gained during the Mexican American War. It set the present geographical boundaries of the state.
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