What was a key feature of the Compromise of 1850?

The Compromise of 1850 was significant in American history as it aimed to address the contentious issue of slavery in the territories acquired during the Mexican-American War. One of its key features was the admission of California as a free state. This was a crucial decision because it sought to balance the interests of free and slave states in Congress.

California's admission as a free state disrupted the previous equilibrium and heightened tensions between northern and southern states. The compromise also included other measures such as the establishment of territorial governments in New Mexico and Utah with popular sovereignty, which allowed those territories to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery. However, the admission of California as free was monumental because it reflected the growing power of the anti-slavery movement in the North, and it represented a critical moment in the lead-up to the Civil War.

This feature was part of a larger legislative package intended to settle the disputes between North and South temporarily, making it a crucial moment in the evolving landscape of American politics regarding slavery.