Who was the leading figure behind the proposal of the Compromise of 1850?

The Compromise of 1850 was a series of legislative measures intended to ease tensions between free and slave states following the Mexican-American War. The leading figure behind this compromise was Henry Clay, who played a critical role in its formulation and advocacy in Congress. Clay's efforts aimed to address the sectional conflict over issues such as the expansion of slavery into newly acquired territories.

Clay's proposal included several key components: the admission of California as a free state, the establishment of territorial governments in the rest of the lands acquired from Mexico without direct restrictions on slavery, the resolution of Texas' border disputes, the abolition of the slave trade in Washington, D.C., and a stricter fugitive slave law. His adeptness at negotiation, alongside his desire for national unity, positioned Clay as the principal architect of this compromise.

While Stephen Douglas did support the Compromise of 1850 and played a significant role in its passage by dividing the legislation into separate votes, he was not the primary initiator of the proposals. John C. Calhoun was a staunch advocate for Southern interests and opposed many aspects of the compromise, expressing concern that it would fail to protect the rights of slave states. Abraham Lincoln, although a prominent political figure during this time, was