Final answer:
The major post-1787 compromises include the Compromise of 1850, which included the Fugitive Slave Act, the Kansas-Nebraska Act that resulted in 'Bleeding Kansas,' and the Dred Scott Decision that ruled African Americans could not sue and Congress couldn't stop slavery in territories, heightening national tensions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Major Post-1787 Compromises in the US Constitutional History
The major post-1787 compromises that played a significant role in shaping the pre-Civil War era in the United States include the Missouri Compromise of 1820, the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, and the Dred Scott Decision of 1857.
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 aimed to resolve growing tensions over slavery following the acquisition of territory from Mexico. Notable elements of this compromise included the controversial Fugitive Slave Act, admission of California as a free state, establishment of the territories of New Mexico and Utah with the question of slavery left to popular sovereignty, resolution of the Texas boundary question, and the abolition of the slave trade in Washington, DC. However, despite hopes for stability, the compromise exacerbated sectional tensions, with the Fugitive Slave Act causing particular outrage in the North.
Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Rise of the Republican Party
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 further stoked divisions by nullifying the Missouri Compromise boundary and permitting popular sovereignty to decide on slavery in those territories. This act led to bloody conflicts in Kansas and contributed to the formation of the Republican Party, which was determined to prevent the spread of slavery.
Dred Scott Decision and Sectional Strife
The Dred Scott Decision of 1857 declared that African Americans were not citizens and had no rights to sue in federal court. Additionally, it claimed that Congress did not have the power to prohibit slavery in the territories, effectively making the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. This ruling deepened the divide between the North and South.
The phrase 'principle of involuntary sacrifice' wasn't explicitly defined in the provided materials. However, it typically refers to the concept that, for a compromise, one or both parties make concessions involuntarily for a perceived greater good or to prevent worse outcomes.