Before It Became History | The Compromise of 1850: Five Laws, One Unraveling Peace

In 1850, Congress tried to defuse a crisis over California, slavery, and the Mexican Cession with five separate laws. One of them — a harsh new Fugitive Slave Act — didn't calm the nation. It pushed it closer to civil war. Before It Became History, a podcast series from the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute, explores the people and moments that shaped the American story. Each episode looks beyond the legend to examine the decisions, conflicts, and ideas that tested the promise of liberty and help...