Compromise of 1850

The Compromise of 1850 was a series of five bills that passed in the U.S. regarding the territory recently obtained from Mexico. It helped reduce tension between the north and south as the idea of popular sovereignty was introduced. It was written by Henry Clay with assistance from Stephen Douglass. California was admitted as a free slate since the attempt to divide the state seemed futile. So the use of popular sovereignty allowed new states that apply for statehood to decided slavery to be allowed or to be banned.