What major event did the Compromise of 1850 aim to address?

The Compromise of 1850 was primarily aimed at resolving the contentious issue of slavery in the newly acquired territories following the Mexican-American War. As the United States expanded westward, the question of whether slavery should be permitted in these territories became a heated topic, leading to significant political conflict between the North and South.

The Compromise sought to balance the interests of both pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions by allowing California to enter the Union as a free state while also providing for the possibility of slavery in the territories of New Mexico and Utah through popular sovereignty. Additionally, the compromise included the enactment of a stricter Fugitive Slave Act, which required that escaped slaves be returned to their owners, further stirring debates around the institution of slavery.

This legislative package was intended to ease tensions and maintain the delicate balance of power between free and slave states, making it a crucial moment in the lead-up to the Civil War. The other options, while significant in their own right, do not directly pertain to the central conflicts or resolutions addressed by the Compromise of 1850.