Topic 5.4
​The Compromise of 1850

​THEMATIC FOCUS American and National Identity (NAT)
The development of and debates about democracy, freedom, citizenship, diversity, and individualism shape American national identity, cultural values, and beliefs about American exceptionalism, and in turn, these ideas shape political institutions and society. Throughout American history, notions of national identity and culture have coexisted with varying degrees of regional and group identities.

Unit 5: Learning Objective D
Explain the similarities and differences in how regional attitudes affected federal policy in the period after the Mexican–American War.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS
KC-5.2.II.A
The Mexican Cession led to heated controversies over whether to allow slavery in the newly acquired territories.
KC-5.2.II.B.i
The courts and national leaders made a variety of attempts to resolve the issue of slavery in the territories, including the Compromise of 1850.