MISSOURI COMPROMISE OF 1850
The Missouri Compromise of 1850 consisted of five bills put in one. The purpose of it was to decrease the tensions between the northern and southern states over the territory gained from the Mexican-American War. The five bills were...
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California would join the union and be considered a free state with no slavery
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A stronger Fugitive Slave Act
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Texas would give up some of its borders to pardon its 10 million dollar tax debt
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New Mexico and Utah formed from Texas borders would be allowed to have sovereignty about whether they want slavery or not
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The District of Columbia would no longer participate in the slave trade, but slavery wasn't abolished from it
The Proposal
The Journey of the Omnibus Bill
The Missouri Compromise of 1850, wasn't actually approved all together. It was separated into different bills for it to pass through congress. The opposition to it was really great.
The Missouri Compromise of 1850 was proposed by Senator Henry Clay from Kentucky. This bill instantly faced great opposition from both sides. Supporting the bill however, was Senator Daniel Webster from Massachusetts. Both sides debated for 9 months on this bill with tensions rising. One side called the bill immoral and acted radically calling for another superior law above the constitution to check slavery. However, the south claimed they were violating their "unalienable rights" to have slavery.
This debate continued on with no end with the President Zachary Taylor not approving of the bill. However, once President Taylor passed away and Millard Fillmore succeeded him, he gave support towards the omnibus bill.
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Still it wasn't enough, so in one desperate move the Senator of Illinois, Stephen A. Douglas split the compromise into five bills passing them separately into Congress. Finally, they became approved not as the Missouri Compromise of 1850, but 5 separate bills