Question

The Compromise of 1850, passed by the U.S. Congress, included which of the following provisions?

a) Allows Texas to divide itself into seven separate states.
b) Established Texas's present boundaries in exchange for a payment from the federal government.
c) Reverted control of Texas to Mexico.
d) Mandated that Texas must sell all public lands within five years.

Answer 1

The Compromise of 1850 led to Texas establishing its present boundaries in exchange for $10 million from the federal government, while also admitting California as a free state and implementing the Fugitive Slave Act.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Compromise of 1850, passed by the U.S. Congress, included several provisions, but the one pertaining to Texas is that Texas's present boundaries were established in exchange for a payment from the federal government. Texas relinquished a portion of its western territory to New Mexico for $10 million. This compromise included other measures such as admitting California as a free state, and instituting the Fugitive Slave Act which provided federal bounties to slave-catchers, and establishing the principle of popular sovereignty in the New Mexico and Utah territories to decide on the question of slavery. As a result, the slave trade was banned in Washington, D.C., although slavery itself could continue. The correct answer to the student's question is b) Established Texas's present boundaries in exchange for a payment from the federal government.