The Compromise of 1850, Fugitive Slave Act, and the Georgia Platform

The Compromise of 1850, Fugitive Slave Act, and the Georgia Platform
          Like the Missouri Compromise, the Compromise of 1850 was formed with the help of Henry Clay. The reason why this compromise was created was because California wanted to be included in the Union as a free state. However, this would create a disruption in the balance of free and slave states. In response to this, California did end up being a free state in the Union. Also, Texas gave up land but they also received ten million dollars. Another part of the deal was that the slave trade, but not slavery, was abolished in Washington D.C. The last, but possibly the most controversial part of the deal, was that the Fugitive Slave Act was passed. This law required that all citizens, even in the North, help return escaped slaves. If you did not do this and got caught, you were denied a trial. There was an increase in federal agents to enforce the law too. This controversial act only strengthened and bolstered the abolitionist movement in the North. Neither the North nor the South was very content with what each other received in the compromise. Finally, the Georgia Platform accepted the Compromise of 1850 as long as the North complied with the Fugitive Slave Act, and that they would not try to ban slavery in new territories or states. Like the Missouri Compromise, the Compromise of 1850 had components that the North and South disagreed about. This deal temporarily reduced the likelihood of the South seceding from the Union.


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