The term "Compromise of 1850" refers to what?

The Compromise of 1850 was a significant legislative package passed by the United States Congress aimed at resolving the growing tensions between free and slave states following the Mexican-American War. It consisted of five key provisions that sought to address the contentious issues surrounding slavery and territorial expansion. These included the admission of California as a free state, the establishment of territorial governments in the newly acquired lands from Mexico with the option of popular sovereignty to decide the slavery issue, the abolition of the slave trade in Washington D.C., the enactment of a stricter Fugitive Slave Law, and the resolution of boundary disputes between Texas and New Mexico.

This set of laws was crucial because it was an attempt to stave off sectional conflict and promote a temporary peace between North and South during a period of increasing division, illustrating the complexities of balancing state rights and federal authority concerning the institution of slavery. Through this compromise, lawmakers sought to mitigate the escalating disputes and maintain the Union.