The Compromise of 1850 was the last significant attempt to maintain the delicate balance between the North and South over the issue of slavery. The nation needed a compromise because the tensions surrounding slavery were escalating and threatened to tear the country apart.

The debate that led to the Compromise was sparked by the Mexican-American War, which resulted in the acquisition of vast territories in the Southwest. The question of whether these new territories would be slave or free states became a major point of contention. The South, which supported slavery, argued that the new territories should be open to slavery, while the North, which opposed slavery, insisted that they should be free.

The Compromise of 1850 included the following terms:

• California Admission: California was admitted to the Union as a free state.
• Texas Boundary: The boundary between Texas and New Mexico was established, and Texas received financial compensation.
• Slave Trade Abolition: The slave trade was abolished in the District of Columbia.
• Fugitive Slave Law: A stricter fugitive slave law was enacted, requiring the return of escaped slaves to their owners.
• Utah and New Mexico Territories: The territories of Utah and New Mexico were organized, and their status regarding slavery was left to popular sovereignty.

While the Compromise temporarily eased tensions, it ultimately failed to resolve the underlying issues of slavery. The South gained more in the deal, as it secured the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law and the protection of slavery in the territories. However, the North also gained something, as California was admitted as a free state. Ultimately, the Compromise of 1850 was a temporary solution to a deeply rooted problem, and it would not be long before the nation would once again be plunged into crisis over the issue of slavery.