Cause: The Mexican-American War. Effects: Acquisition of vast territory, intensified debate over slavery, led to the Compromise of 1850.

Cause: Discovery of gold in California. Effects: Rapid population growth, pressure for statehood, upset the balance between free and slave states.

Cause: Part of the Compromise of 1850, designed to appease the South. Effects: Increased tensions in the North, forced Northerners to participate in capturing slaves, radicalized abolitionist sentiment.

Cause: Desire to maintain the Union and address the slavery question in newly acquired territories. Effects: Temporary easing of tensions, but ultimately failed to resolve the issue, exacerbated sectional divisions, contributed to the Civil War.

Cause: Attempt to allow residents to decide on slavery. Effects: Proved ineffective, led to conflict and further division.

Cause: Rapid population growth due to the Gold Rush. Effects: Upset the balance between free and slave states in the Senate, angered the South.

Cause: Desire to appease abolitionist sentiment. Effects: Symbolic victory, but did not end slavery in the capital.

Vast territory acquired by the U.S. after the Mexican-American War, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of other states.

The rapid influx of settlers into California starting in 1849, triggered by the discovery of gold, leading to rapid population growth and pressure for statehood.

The principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, who are the source of all political power.

A law passed as part of the Compromise of 1850 that made the federal government responsible for recovering runaway slaves in the North and imposed harsh penalties on those who aided them.

A package of five separate bills passed by the United States Congress in September 1850 that defused a four-year political confrontation between slave and free states regarding the status of territories acquired during the Mexican-American War.

A state in the United States where slavery was illegal.

A state in the United States where slavery was legal.

Loyalty to the interests of one's own region or section of the country, rather than to the nation as a whole.

The treaty that ended the Mexican-American War in 1848, in which Mexico ceded a large amount of territory to the United States.

The political position advocating for more power to be reserved to the individual states than held by the federal government.

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War, and the U.S. acquired the Mexican Cession.

The California Gold Rush began, leading to a massive influx of settlers and pressure for California's admission as a state.

The Compromise of 1850 was enacted, consisting of five acts designed to address the issue of slavery in newly acquired territories.

It upset the balance between free and slave states in the Senate, angering the South.

It increased tensions in the North, as it forced Northerners to participate in the capture of runaway slaves and was seen as a violation of individual rights.

It was a symbolic victory for abolitionists, but did not end slavery in the capital.

It allowed residents of New Mexico and Utah territories to decide on slavery, but proved ineffective in resolving the issue and led to further conflict.

The dispute was settled in favor of non-slave New Mexico.

It temporarily eased tensions over slavery but ultimately failed to resolve the underlying issues and exacerbated sectional divisions, contributing to the Civil War.

It radicalized abolitionist sentiment in the North and increased resistance to slavery, further dividing the nation.