What did the Compromise of 1850 aim to address?

The Compromise of 1850 was a significant legislative effort aimed at addressing the mounting tensions between free and slave states in the United States, particularly in the context of expansion into new territories. It sought to defuse the potential for disunion that was exacerbated by debates over whether new states admitted to the Union would be free or slave states.

The compromise included several key provisions such as admitting California as a free state, creating Utah and New Mexico territories with the option for residents to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty, and enacting a stricter Fugitive Slave Act. These measures were designed to balance the interests of both North and South, thereby reducing conflict over the issue of slavery in the territories and helping to maintain the unity of the nation at a time when sectional divides were growing increasingly pronounced.

By addressing these critical issues, the Compromise of 1850 aimed to provide a temporary solution to the sectional crisis and prevent the immediate prospect of disunion, which was a major concern at the time.