In what way did the Compromise of 1850 contribute to the Union victory in the Civil War?

Answer 1

The Compromise of 1850 helped to resolve the conflict of territory and slavery which had arose from the Mexican and American War. This series of 5 laws provided a sure way to balance the interests of the states that lied to the south of Missouri and the northern free states. When California was added this allowed the Union to add to their troops because the state of California could not be divided and was therefore declared a free state for the purpose of the war.

Answer 2

The North was satisfied with the admission of California to the Union as free soil.

The South was satisfied with the Fugitive Slave Act, which compelled members of the public to report anyone who looked as though they might be a runaway slave.

Answer 3

You could say it didn't delay it.

The attempt to appease the South with the Fugitive Slave Act roused a lot of people to help the Abolitionist movement. Harriet Beecher Stowe was so angry, she wrote 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'. Look what happened after that.

Answer 4

By the unwise introduction of the Fugitive Slave Act.

This was meant to benefit the South. In fact, it provoked an emotive reaction in the North, converting many neutral observers to the cause of Abolitionism. It raised the temperatire of the debate nationwide.

Answer 5

It brought in the Fugitive Slave Act, a concession to the South, whereby official slave-catchers were employed to hunt down runaways.

This infuriated the powerful Abolitionist lobby, and caused Harriet Beecher Stowe to dash off 'Uncle Tom's Cabin', which raised the temperature of the whole slavery debate.

Answer 6

They thought they were going to benefit from the Fugitive Slave Law, which appointed official slave-catchers to hunt down the runaways.

In fact, this one backfired badly, because it aroused Harriet Beecher Stowe to write 'Uncle Tom's Cabin', which stimulated Abolitionist sentiment all over the North.

Answer 7

It greatly upset the North by introducing the Fugitive Slave Act, where citizens could be fined for failing to report anyone who looked as though they could be a runaway slave.

Answer 8

It reduced the prospects for new slave-states, so when the Confederacy was eventually formed, it contained fewer states than it otherwise might have done.