What was the primary issue of the Compromise of 1850?

The primary issue of the Compromise of 1850 revolved around the status of slavery in newly acquired territories after the Mexican-American War. Following the war, vast territories were added to the United States, and there was significant debate about whether these regions would permit slavery or be free soil. The Compromise aimed to address this contentious issue by allowing California to enter the Union as a free state while also enacting the Fugitive Slave Act, which mandated the return of escaped slaves. It also implemented popular sovereignty in the remaining territories, allowing the settlers in those areas to determine their own stance on slavery. This compromise was crucial in an effort to balance the interests of both slaveholding and free states, thereby attempting to reduce tensions that were escalating in the nation.