The Fugitive Slave Act and the Compromise of 1850

The video discusses the US's complex situation post-Mexican American War, focusing on the debate over new territories being slave or free states. The Compromise of 1850, proposed by Henry Clay and reworked by Stephen Douglas, aimed to ease tensions but included the controversial Fugitive Slave Act. This act intensified North-South divisions and fueled the abolitionist movement. Harriet Beecher Stowe's 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' further highlighted slavery's horrors, influencing public opinion and increasing anti-slavery protests. The video concludes with a review and quiz on these topics.

What was the main concern of Southerners regarding the admission of new Free States?

• Loss of cultural identity

• Imbalance of power in Congress

• Loss of economic opportunities

• Increased taxes

Which law was strengthened in 1850 to impose harsher penalties on those aiding escaped slaves?

• Kansas-Nebraska Act

• Fugitive Slave Act

• Judiciary Act

• Missouri Compromise

What was one of the significant outcomes of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850?

• It was ignored by the Northern states

• It resolved the North-South tensions

• It increased Northern participation in slavery

• It led to the abolition of slavery

Who authored the influential anti-slavery novel published in 1852?

• Mark Twain

• Harriet Beecher Stowe

• Frederick Douglass

• Sojourner Truth

Approximately how many copies of Uncle Tom's Cabin were sold in the first three months?

• 300,000 copies

• 200,000 copies

• 50,000 copies

• 10,000 copies