Answer: Compromises and acts were implemented in an effort to save the Union, but ultimately they were not enough to prevent the outbreak of the Civil War. Two examples of compromises that helped in the short term but failed in the long term were the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850.
The Missouri Compromise, passed in 1820, aimed to maintain the balance between free states and slave states in the United States. It established a line at 36 degrees 30 minutes North latitude, with slavery allowed south of the line and prohibited north of it. While this temporarily settled the issue of slavery in new territories, it did not address the underlying tensions between the North and the South over the expansion of slavery into new states. As more territories were acquired, debates over the expansion of slavery continued to intensify, ultimately leading to the secession of Southern states and the outbreak of the Civil War.
The Compromise of 1850 attempted to resolve disputes over the newly acquired territories from the Mexican-American War. It allowed California to enter the Union as a free state, while also implementing stricter fugitive slave laws and allowing for popular sovereignty in the remaining territories. This compromise temporarily eased tensions, but it ultimately failed to address the underlying issues of slavery and states' rights. The Fugitive Slave Act, in particular, sparked outrage in the North and increased support for abolitionist movements, further dividing the country and pushing it towards war.
In summary, compromises and acts were used as temporary solutions to the growing tensions between the North and South, but they ultimately failed to address the deeper issues of slavery and states' rights. The Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850 are just two examples of how attempts at compromise fell short, ultimately leading to the devastating conflict of the Civil War.
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