What was a key provision of the Compromise of 1850? a. California would enter the Union as a slave state. b. Slavery would be abolished in Washington, D. C. c. The Oregon Territory would be created. d. The Fugitive Slave Act gave runaway slaves more protection and guaranteed them a lawyer in court. e. The New Mexico and Utah Territories would use popular sovereignty to decide about slavery.

E. The New Mexico and Utah Territories would use popular sovereignty to decide about slavery is the correct answer.

Explanation:

Series of laws passed in 1850 to deal with the controversial issue of slavery in US is known as The compromise of 1850. Due to Mexican-american war new territories were gained by USA. The Southern slave states and Northern Free states argued about the state of slavery in new land or not, their argument was solved by the Compromise of 1850. It was drafted by Henry Clay and was based on the ideas of Senator Stephen A Douglas of Illinois. It was meant to solve the issues of slavery between them. It allowed California to enter as a free state and Texas a slave state. The admission of Utah and New Mexico territory as slave states was left on the decision of people. It contained five bills that were passed in September 1850.