Glossary
California Gold Rush
A period of rapid migration to California beginning in 1849 due to the discovery of gold, leading to a massive population increase.
Example:
The sudden population boom from the California Gold Rush forced the issue of California's statehood, disrupting the delicate balance of free and slave states in Congress.
Compromise of 1850
A series of five legislative acts passed in 1850 designed to address the issue of slavery in newly acquired territories and avert secession.
Example:
Despite its aim to preserve unity, the Compromise of 1850 ultimately proved to be a temporary truce, as its provisions, particularly the Fugitive Slave Act, inflamed sectional tensions.
Daniel Webster
A leading American statesman and orator from Massachusetts, known for his powerful speeches in defense of the Union, particularly his support for the Compromise of 1850.
Example:
In his famous 'Seventh of March' speech, Daniel Webster urged Northern senators to support the Compromise of 1850, prioritizing the preservation of the Union over sectional interests.
Fugitive Slave Act
A highly controversial provision of the Compromise of 1850 that strengthened federal power to recover runaway slaves and compelled Northerners to assist in their capture.
Example:
The highly controversial Fugitive Slave Act sparked outrage in the North, leading to increased abolitionist sentiment and acts of civil disobedience against its enforcement.
Henry Clay
A prominent American statesman from Kentucky, known as the 'Great Compromiser' for his role in crafting major legislative compromises, including the Compromise of 1850.
Example:
As an elder statesman, Henry Clay made a final, impassioned plea for national unity, presenting the initial proposals that would form the basis of the Compromise of 1850.
Mexican Cession
The vast territory in the present-day southwestern United States that Mexico ceded to the U.S. in 1848 following the Mexican-American War.
Example:
The acquisition of the Mexican Cession reignited the intense national debate over whether slavery would be permitted in new territories, pushing the nation closer to conflict.
Popular Sovereignty
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. In the context of the Compromise of 1850, it referred to allowing residents of a territory to decide on the legality of slavery through a vote.
Example:
The application of popular sovereignty in territories like Kansas led to violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers, demonstrating its failure to peacefully resolve the issue.
Stephen Douglas
An American politician from Illinois who played a crucial role in passing the Compromise of 1850 and later championed the concept of popular sovereignty in the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
Example:
When the original omnibus bill stalled, Stephen Douglas skillfully broke the Compromise of 1850 into individual bills, allowing them to pass through Congress one by one.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The peace treaty signed in 1848 that officially ended the Mexican-American War.
Example:
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo dramatically expanded the United States' territory, setting the stage for future debates over slavery in the newly acquired lands.