Short-Answer Questions—Chapter 1, Sections 5 and 6 Quiz
Compare and contrast the Missouri Compromise to the Compromise of 1850.
1. Both the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850 involved the question of slavery. In the
Missouri Compromise, Missouri was allowed to join the Union as a slave state but slavery was banned north of
36-30N in territory that was part of the Louisiana Purchase. Also, Maine was allowed to join the Union as a
free-state which kept the balance between the slave and non-slave states equal in Congress. The Compromise
of 1850 dealt with land acquired by the United States from Mexico as a result of the 1846 war with Mexico in
which Mexico was defeated by the United States. Congressman opposed to slavery wanted to prohibit slavery
in all of this territory. Proponents of slavery wanted slavery to be extended to this territory. A compromise
between these two sides was reached: California would enter the U.S. as a free state and Utah and New Mexico
territory would decide the issue by a vote. Also, as part of the compromise, Texas was given $10 million as
compensation for land that was given to New Mexico, the slave trade was abolished in the District of Colombia
which was supported by the side opposed to slavery, and a new stiffer fugitive slave law was enacted to appease
the pro-slavery side.
2. Missouri Compromise:
A law established to make the state of Missouri
a slave state but made the state of Maine a free
state.
Compromise of 1850:
A law established to make any new state a slave
state except New Mexico.
3. In the Missouri Compromise it said all states above 36 30N are to be free states except Missouri. The
Compromise of 1850 said all states had the right to vote on slavery.
4. They were both about buying land but Louisiana became a slave state and Missouri did not.
5. The Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850 were alike because they both dealt with the issue of
slavery. In the Missouri Compromise, Missouri wanted to be accepted into the U.S. as a slave state. The Union
allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state but also allowed Maine to enter as a free state to keep the balance
between slave states and free states. The Compromise of 1850 was that California wanted to be admitted as a
free states so they admitted California and let Utah and New Mexico vote on whether or not they would be slave
states. They are different because in the Missouri Compromise, Missouri wanted to be a state and in the 1850
Compromise, the U. S. had won California and the other states from Mexico.
Explain the Doctrine of Nullification. (what was it, what caused it, what were its implications, what were
the results).
1. The Doctrine of Nullification was a doctrine that was formulated in 1820 by John C. Calhoun of South
Carolina. It stated that states had the constitutional right to nullify or cancel any act of the federal government
that went beyond the specific powers given to it by the Constitution. Calhoun (and South Carolina) was
provoked into drawing up this doctrine when Congress passed a tariff that increased the cost of products
imported from abroad. The tariff would help protect Northern businesses that were losing business to foreign
countries that were producing products that were sold cheaper than the same products produced in the North.
According to Calhoun, the tariff had a positive effect on the North and a negative effect on the South. Instead
of paying much higher prices for imported products, people would buy the Northern produced products which
would help these businesses stay in business. However, it would hurt those people, mainly Southerners, who
were now forced to pay more money for the same product. Fearing the havoc that would occur if states started
ignoring federal laws, Congress decided to lower the tariff. Calhoun then withdrew his doctrine.
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2. The doctrine of Nullification, a document drafted by John C. Calhoun, was intended to protect the south from
“the tyranny of the majority.” It was initially caused by the tariff the north set upon goods incoming from other
countries. It implied that the south did not have to pay the tariff, and that the southern states would secede from
the nation if they had to. It resulted in Congress lowering the tariff.
3. The doctrine of Nullification was a document that allowed states to nullify a federal decision based on its
constitutionality. It basically forced the south to buy goods from the North, which was more expensive than
buying from England. The north eventually lowered the tariff on incoming goods from England.
4. The Doctrine of Nullification was made to help balance against the tariff being created. It cancelled the tariff
out and made people not have to pay as much taxes on farming equipment, etc. It was eventually dropped when
the North revoked the tariff on the equipment.
5. The Doctrine of Nullification was written by Calhoun to help protect the south from the Northern states. It
allowed any state to nullify any law they thought was unconstitutional. This was so they did not have to pay
tariffs on British goods. Eventually, the taxes were lowered and the doctrine was recalled.
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