Day 4: Compromise of 1850
Materials to Distribute
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America Blank Outline Map 1850
American in 1850 map graphic
Compromise of 1850 Informational Text Sheet
Newspaper Front Page – Check for Understanding
Background: Following the acquisition of over one million square miles of land in western North
America as a result of the Mexican-American War, the United States found itself at a crossroads on the
issue of slavery. The Compromise of 1850 would attempt to appease both the northern and southern
states and would (once again) provide a temporary solution to sectional differences that threatened to
split the country in half. There were four main components to the Compromise of 1850.
Say: The United States was looking more and more like it does today by 1850. California had become a
free state the year before. A huge area of the American west was divided into two regions: The Utah
Territory and the New Mexico Territory. In 1850, these territories were much larger than the states
today. These two territories would play a leading role in the Compromise of 1850.
Distribute: America in 1850 label-me map. Have students complete the map. Use the America in 1850
map graphic to help if necessary.
Ask: The Compromise of 1850 was about slavery and slavery-related issues. How do you think such
issues were dealt with by the Government with respect to these new territories?
Say: As part of the Compromise of 1850, both the territories of New Mexico and Utah would be granted
popular sovereignty.
Ask: Can anyone explain the meaning of popular sovereignty?
Say: That’s correct! Popular sovereignty allows the voters in a particular territory to choose whether or
not to allow the practice of slavery. In addition to the decisions concerning the new territories,
California is admitted to the Union as a free state that will never allow slavery. In another twist, the
slave trade (although not the practice of slavery) is abolished in the District of Columbia and the
Fugitive Slave Law is strengthened and enforced. As a side note, the arid land in Utah and New Mexico
was generally unsuitable to the type of agriculture that necessitated slave labor, so the residents of
these territories were not interested in slavery.
Ask: Can anyone explain what the Fugitive Slave Law was?
Say: Nicknamed the “bloodhound law” by abolitionists in the North, the Fugitive Slave Law was a law
that required the return of slaves who had escaped to the North, to their “masters” in the South.
Citizens in the North who refused to cooperate were subject to prosecution. Slaves would now have to
escape to Canada to be free. Wisconsin would become the only state to declare the law
unconstitutional.
Distribute: The Compromise of 1850 Newspaper Announcement activity. Have students create colorful
icons and “taglines” for each of the four points of the compromise.
United States in 1850 Label-me Map
Label the Map Above
1.
4.
7.
10.
13.
16.
19.
22.
25.
28.
31.
34.
2.
5.
8.
11.
14.
17.
20.
23.
26.
29.
32.
35.
3.
6.
9.
12.
15.
18.
21.
24.
27.
30.
33.
Answers
United States in 1850 Label-me Map
1. Maine
4. New York
7. Connecticut
10. Delaware
13. North Carolina
16. Ohio
19. Alabama
22. Louisiana
25. Indiana
28. Wisconsin
31. Unorganized Territory
34. Utah Territory
Label the Map Above
2. New Hampshire
5. Massachusetts
8. New Jersey
11. Maryland
14. South Carolina
17. Kentucky
20. Florida
23. Arkansas
26. Michigan
29. Iowa
32. Texas
35. Oregon Territory
3. Vermont
6. Rhode Island
9. Pennsylvania
12. Virginia
15. Georgia
18. Tennessee
21. Mississippi
24. Missouri
27. Illinois
30. Minnesota Territory
33. New Mexico Territory
36. California
Extra, Extra – A Compromise has Been Made
Instructions – Design the front cover of the newspaper below to reflect the four points of the Compromise
of 1850. Make sure to draw pictures and a clever “taglines” (like) “Califreedom!”
The Washington Gazette
January 30, 1850
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
COMPROMISE MADE!
Senator Clay’s Plan Saves the Day
North and south avert war for now!
Califreedom!
California is
forever free!
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was primarily about the issue of slavery in America’s new territories
acquired after the Mexican War, though other, less important issues were included as well.
California had already adopted an anti-slavery constitution and appliedfor statehood. The
question, then, was whether slavery should be allowed in the new territories. Both pro-slavery
and anti-slavery advocates argued over the issue, yet neither side was strong enough to
administer a plan of action.
The slavery issue quickly became a crisis that threatened the Union. In an attempt to maintain
a balance between free and slave states, Henry Clay offered the famous compromise. Clay’s
Compromise called for the admission of California as a free state, the organization of the new
territories of New Mexico and Utah, with the slavery issue left to those citizens, settlement of
border disputes between Texas and New Mexico, a prohibition of slave trade in the District of
Columbia, and a more stringent Fugitive Slave Law
which outlined penalties for individuals who harbored runaway slaves. The compromise was
accepted by moderates throughout the country, and may have postponed southern secession
for a decade.
Although the Compromise of 1850 was a good temporary solution, its precedent led to future
violence in Kansas, and ultimately, could not prevent the onset of the Civil War eleven years
later.