Missouri Compromise: A legislative agreement reached in 1820 that allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state, while Maine entered as a free state, helping maintain a balance between slave states and free states.
Sectionalism: The loyalty or support given to a particular region or section of a country instead of the nation as a whole. It played a significant role during debates surrounding Missouri's admission as it highlighted divisions between northern and southern states.
Compromise of 1850: A series of laws passed in 1850 aimed at resolving disputes over slavery expansion, including allowing California to enter as a free state while strengthening the Fugitive Slave Act. The controversy surrounding Missouri influenced later compromises attempting to address sectional tensions.