Missouri Compromise

Definition

The Missouri Compromise was a legislative agreement passed in 1820 that aimed to balance the power between slave and free states in the United States. It allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state while Maine was admitted as a free state, maintaining the balance of power in Congress. This compromise also established a geographic line at latitude 36°30′, north of which slavery was prohibited in the Louisiana Territory, except for Missouri. The agreement was significant in shaping the political landscape during the Antebellum Period, highlighting the growing tensions surrounding slavery and contributing to later conflicts.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Missouri Compromise was introduced by Henry Clay, who aimed to resolve sectional conflicts between the North and South.
2. The compromise temporarily eased tensions by maintaining an equal number of slave and free states in the Union.
3. The geographical line established by the Missouri Compromise became a contentious issue as new territories were settled and applied for statehood.
4. Despite its intentions, the Missouri Compromise ultimately highlighted deepening divisions over slavery that would lead to further conflicts.
5. The compromise was effectively overturned by the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, which allowed new territories to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty.

Review Questions

• How did the Missouri Compromise reflect the political climate of the Antebellum Period regarding slavery?
  • The Missouri Compromise was a direct response to the growing tensions between slave and free states during the Antebellum Period. By allowing Missouri to enter as a slave state and Maine as a free state, it aimed to maintain a delicate balance in Congress. This compromise illustrated how lawmakers attempted to address sectional differences and avoid conflict, yet it ultimately revealed the limits of compromise in dealing with the divisive issue of slavery.
• What were the long-term consequences of the Missouri Compromise on American politics leading up to the Civil War?
  • The Missouri Compromise had significant long-term consequences for American politics as it set a precedent for future compromises but also exposed the underlying tensions surrounding slavery. It temporarily resolved immediate conflicts but ultimately led to increased sectionalism. The compromise's geographical line became a point of contention in later legislation, contributing to events like the Kansas-Nebraska Act and intensifying debates that would eventually culminate in civil war.
• Evaluate how the Missouri Compromise laid the groundwork for future legislative efforts regarding slavery in America.
  • The Missouri Compromise established key principles about balancing slave and free states, which influenced later legislative efforts such as the Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act. It showed that while compromise could provide temporary solutions, it also deepened divisions by introducing geographic lines that became contentious battlegrounds. As new territories sought statehood, these earlier compromises revealed their inadequacy in resolving fundamental disputes over slavery, ultimately leading to more aggressive confrontations and legal battles leading up to the Civil War.

Related terms

Compromise of 1850: A series of laws passed in 1850 that aimed to ease tensions between slave and free states, including the admission of California as a free state and the strengthening of the Fugitive Slave Act.

Kansas-Nebraska Act: An 1854 law that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, allowing residents to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery through popular sovereignty, which led to violent conflict known as 'Bleeding Kansas.'

Dred Scott v. Sandford: An 1857 Supreme Court case that ruled African Americans could not be American citizens and that Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in federal territories, effectively nullifying the Missouri Compromise.