During 1850, the United States was perfectly balanced between slave and free states. This changed when California declared itself as a free state, which disrupted the balance.
I, California, have decided to become a free state!
What!? You can't do that! You will ruin the balance!
Many people debated over what the outcome should be, and whether or not California should be a free state or a slave state.
California should be a free state!
They cant! If California were to be free, the the north would have a superiority!
Everyone, I have an idea! How about California can become free, the Slave Trade is abolished in DC, and we pass the Fugitive Slave Act!
Henry Clay then thought of a compromise, whch became the Compromise of 1850.
In the compromise, the most controversial was the Fugitive Slave Act. It said that it was illegal to help a slave escape, and they were to immediately be sent back to their master.
I'm sorry but I can't. It is illegal to help you due to the Fugitive Slave Act.
Please sir! Why won't you help me escape to the North?
Many northerners were furious about the Fugitive Slave Act because it gave more power to southern states, which led to some northerners not following the act.
We are against this act! This is giving the South more power than us!
Amongst all the chaos that happened, one great outcome was the idea of popular sovereignty, which stated is the principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people.
