What was a significant effect of the Compromise of 1850?

The Compromise of 1850 was a complex legislative package aimed at addressing the tensions between free and slave states in the United States, particularly in relation to new territories acquired from the Mexican-American War. One of its key components was the introduction of a stricter enforcement mechanism for the return of fugitive slaves. This provision mandated that escaped slaves be returned to their owners, even if found in free states, and it imposed penalties on those who assisted runaway slaves.

By strengthening the Fugitive Slave Law, the Compromise aimed to appease Southern slave owners who felt threatened by the increasing number of free states and the potential loss of their property. This provision, however, fueled greater tensions between the North and South, as many in the North saw it as a moral affront and an unnecessary extension of Southern interests into free territory. This response led to increased abolitionist sentiment and activism in the North, further deepening the divide over the issue of slavery.

In contrast, other options do not accurately depict the effects of the Compromise. It did not unify the North and South; rather, it highlighted and exacerbated their differences over slavery. The Compromise did not declare all territories free states, as it allowed for the possibility of slavery in some territories, and