The Compromise of 1850: A Temporary Solution

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Compromise, according to the New Oxford Dictionary, is an agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions. Throughout history, favored compromises, as well as controversial ones, have been made, such as the Compromise of 1850. Arguably one of the most debated compromises in the history of America, the Compromise was first proposed by Henry Clay on January 29, 1850, (pbs.org), and was intended to ease the growing tensions between the North and South. While successful, it was only a temporary solution. In retrospect, this particular agreement did more harm than good. The Compromise of 1850 acted as a catalyst for the Civil War because it demonstrated the North and South’s inabilities to come to agreement and further strained relationships between the two sections of the nation.
Originally a single bill, the Compromise was composed of five parts. Firstly, California would be admitted to the Union as a free state. In exchange, the South was guaranteed that no government restrictions on slavery would be placed on the territories of New Mexico and Utah (ushistory.org). Thirdly, Texas would lose its boundary claims to New Mexico, but Congress would pay ten million dollars to Texas in compensation. Furthermore, the slave trade was to be prohibited in Washington D.C, but slavery itself would still be maintained (ushistory.org). Finally, the Fugitive Slave Act would be passed, requiring Northerners to return runaway slaves to their owners, under penalty of law (ushistory.org).
At the time of his proposal, Clay planned for the Compromise to solve all the current issues of the nation immediately. Instead, his solution created more problems. Following the Mexican War, the North and South squabbled over t...

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...as a free state and of the prohibition of slave trade in Washington D.C. The Compromise did very little to permanently diffuse sectional tensions, and the North and South turned to unavoidable war to settle their disputes.

Works Cited
Goldfield, Abbot, Anderson, J. Arsinger, P. Arsinger, Barney, Weir. The American
Journey: A History of the United States. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc. 2007. Print.
"The Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. .
"The Compromise of 1850 Begins the March to Civil War." Examiner.com. AXS Digital Group, n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2014. .
"The Compromise of 1850." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. .

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