Kimberly Cicero
Mrs. Kraus
History 1
19 March 2015
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 accomplished what it had set out to do, which was keeping the nation united. This solution was only temporary, ending in the country's citizens becoming further separated over the problem of slavery (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2951.html). To resolve the problem of slavery, Henry Clay proposed the Compromise of 1850, hoping to avoid battle and disunion (US History ibook, page 583). This compromise failed for a number of reasons, the greatest of which that it was unable to please both anti-slavery and pro-slavery (grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compromise_of_1850s).

Each time Henry Clays Compromise was ready for vote, it did not obtain the mainstream of votes that it needed. Clay then had to take a leave of absent, due to his illness, before the quarrel could be resolved. In his place, Stephen Douglas worked determinedly to end the fight (http://www.ushistory.org/us/30d.asp). Douglas abandoned Clay's plan of gathering all issues in-between the units into a single bill. Therefore, he presented Clay's suggestions one at a time. In this way, he was able to gather provision from changing alliances of Whigs, Democrats, Northerners and Southerners on each issue. In the end, only 4 senators and 28 representatives voted which meant that the bill had been passed (https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Clays_Last_Compromise.htm).

Later on, Douglas proposed the Kansas- Nebraska Act of 1854 on January 23, 1854 which is said to be the single most substantial event leading to the Civil War. There were many reasons for passing this compromise, one of which, he wanted to see Nebraska made into a territory and to win southern support. This act permitted each territory to decide the issue of slavery on the basis of popular sovereignty. Congressional debate over the bill was unpleasant (US History ibook, 597). Come Northern congressmen saw the bill as part of a plan to turn the territories into slave states (US History ibook, 597). The controversy on this bill lasted months but with the help of President Franklin Pierce, this act became a law in May 1854 (US History ibook, 597).

The Fugitive Slave Act was then passed on September 17, 1850, as part of the "Compromise of 1850 ("http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/fugitive-slave-acts). This act required Northern states to strongly support efforts of Southern slave holders who came to claim runaways, but did not provide the north protection against false claims