In 1850, the United States was experiencing significant social and political changes. This year marked the passage of the Compromise of 1850, a series of laws aimed at resolving tensions between free and slave states. The compromise included the admission of California as a free state and the implementation of a stricter Fugitive Slave Act, which required citizens to assist in the capture of escaped slaves. Globally, 1850 was also a time of industrial growth and exploration. The Industrial Revolution was transforming economies, particularly in Europe and North America, leading to urbanization and changes in labor. Advances in technology, such as the steam engine, were reshaping transportation and manufacturing.