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8 unusual facts about Compromise of 1850


Compromise of 1850

During the heated debates, Compromise floor leader Henry S. Foote of Mississippi drew a pistol on Senator Benton.

The independent Republic of Texas won the decisive Battle of San Jacinto (April 21, 1836) against Mexico and captured Mexican president Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.

Texas was allowed to keep the following portions of the erstwhile disputed land: that which is south of the 32nd parallel, and that which is south of the 36°30' parallel north and east of the 103rd meridian west.

During the deadlock of four years, the Second Party System broke up, Mormon pioneers settled Utah, the California Gold Rush settled northern California, and New Mexico under a federal military government turned back Texas's attempt to assert control over territory Texas claimed as far west as the Rio Grande.

Texas dropped its claim to land north of the 32nd parallel north and west of the 103rd meridian west in favor of New Mexico Territory, and north of the 36°30' parallel north and east of the 103rd meridian west which became unorganized territory.

History of the University of Texas at Austin

Congress failed to act any further until 1858, when lawmakers set out in the Act of 1858 $100,000 in United States bonds left from the Compromise of 1850 to put towards the universities.

Sean Theriault

Theriault has published articles on presidential rhetoric, congressional careers, issue framing, the Compromise of 1850, and public approval of Congress.

Southern Compromise

Compromise of 1850, package of five bills regarding slavery in new territories, designed to avoid secession or civil war


James Batchelder

President Franklin Pierce was determined to turn over an escaped slave from Boston - a center of abolitionist activity - in order to show Southern politicians that Northern states would enforce the Fugitive Slave Act, a key provision of the Compromise of 1850.


see also

James Ford Rhodes

However, his factual assertions from "History of the United States from the Compromise of 1850" were challenged by contemporary black Southerners like John R. Lynch from Mississippi who witnessed Mississippi's Reconstruction first-hand.