History of North America

Why was the north angry at compromise of 1850?

The Compromise of 1850 was a legislative compromise between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States in 1850. It was intended to resolve the long-standing political conflict between the North and the South over slavery. In Northern states, the Compromise of 1850 was met with widespread dissatisfaction and public outrage, primarily because of its inclusion of the Fugitive Slave Act.

Here are the reasons for the North's anger at the Compromise of 1850:

1. Fugitive Slave Act: The Fugitive Slave Act was a major component of the Compromise of 1850. It required Northern states to assist in capturing and returning escaped slaves to their Southern owners, even in states where slavery had been abolished. Northerners were outraged by this law, considering it a violation of individual liberties and states' rights.

2. Popular Sovereignty: The Compromise of 1850 also introduced the concept of popular sovereignty, whereby territories and new states could determine for themselves whether to allow or prohibit slavery. Although this concept favored the Southern states initially, it also upset Northern abolitionists who feared the spread of slavery into territories with a potential for free settlement.

3. California Statehood: The compromise admitted California as a free state, but as a compensation for Southerners, it also created the new pro-slavery territories of New Mexico and Utah. Many Northern states saw this imbalance as a capitulation to Southern demands and a setback for the cause of freedom.

4. Reinforcement of Slavery: Despite efforts to maintain a compromise, the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act reinforced the institution of slavery and further solidified the power of the slave states in the federal government. Northern abolitionist saw this as a violation of the principles of equality and justice upon which the U.S. was founded.

5. Increased Sectionalism: The intense sectional divisions during the debate over the Compromise of 1850 exacerbated the already tense relationship between the North and the South. It solidified the Northern view of the South as a region intent on preserving its exploitative system at the expense of Northerner's values and interests.