The Legacy of the 1850 Compromise | Henry Clay and the Struggle for the Union

Discover the monthslong process to pass the compromise measures of 1850, from the defeat of an omnibus bill on July 31, 1850, to its passage as separate bills in September 1850. Students watching this video will explore the views of Northern abolitionists and pro-slavery Southerners and the legacy of the Compromise of 1850 in relation to the Civil War.

Students will also learn about Henry Clay’s death in 1852, three years into his final Senate term, and his funeral. Students will explore how his contemporaries viewed his work as a lawmaker and his status as a slaveholder, and they will consider his legacy today.