What was the significance of the Compromise of 1850?

The Compromise of 1850 was significant primarily because it attempted to address and resolve the contentious issues related to territorial expansion and slavery that emerged following the Mexican-American War. This compromise consisted of a series of legislative agreements aimed at balancing the interests of free and slave states in the wake of new territories being added to the United States.

The measures included the admission of California as a free state, the establishment of territorial governments in New Mexico and Utah with the question of slavery to be decided by the settlers, and the enactment of a stricter Fugitive Slave Law, which heightened tensions between the North and South. By attempting to mediate the sectional disputes sparked by territorial gains, the Compromise of 1850 played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of the time, temporarily easing conflicts over slavery, even though it ultimately failed to provide a lasting solution and intensified sectional divisions.

This context underscores why the choice highlighting its aim to resolve slavery and territorial controversies captures the essence of the Compromise of 1850's significance.