Missouri Compromise

Definition

The Missouri Compromise was a legislative agreement reached in 1820 that aimed to maintain the balance of power between free and slave states in the United States. It allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state while Maine was admitted as a free state, effectively maintaining the delicate equilibrium between North and South. This compromise highlighted the growing sectional tensions surrounding slavery and set a precedent for future territorial expansion.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Missouri Compromise was proposed by Henry Clay and passed by Congress in 1820 amid rising tensions over the expansion of slavery into new territories.
2. The compromise drew a geographic line at latitude 36°30′ north, establishing that all territories north of this line (excluding Missouri) would be free states.
3. The Missouri Compromise was significant because it temporarily eased sectional tensions but ultimately foreshadowed more profound conflicts over slavery in the coming decades.
4. Although it maintained a balance between free and slave states at the time, the Missouri Compromise was eventually deemed unconstitutional by later court rulings, leading to increased discord.
5. The Missouri Compromise marked an early example of legislative efforts to deal with the divisive issue of slavery, setting the stage for future compromises and conflicts leading up to the Civil War.

Review Questions

• How did the Missouri Compromise aim to address the political issues surrounding slavery during its time?
  • The Missouri Compromise aimed to address political issues by maintaining a balance between free and slave states. By admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, it sought to prevent any one side from gaining an advantage in Congress. This legislative effort highlighted how contentious slavery had become and established a framework for dealing with future states entering the Union, reflecting the increasing sectional tensions of the era.
• In what ways did the Missouri Compromise influence social structure and daily life in antebellum Georgia?
  • The Missouri Compromise influenced social structure in antebellum Georgia by reinforcing existing pro-slavery attitudes among many white Georgians who saw the balance of slave and free states as essential to their economic interests. With cotton being a major cash crop reliant on slave labor, Georgians were motivated to maintain this balance to protect their way of life. The compromise also intensified discussions about states' rights and the role of federal government in regulating slavery, impacting social interactions and community dynamics.
• Evaluate how the Missouri Compromise set a precedent for future legislative efforts related to slavery and its eventual impact on American society leading up to the Civil War.
  • The Missouri Compromise set a crucial precedent by demonstrating that legislative compromises could temporarily manage sectional disputes regarding slavery, but it also revealed their limitations. Although it successfully maintained peace for a time, it ultimately failed to resolve deeper ideological divides. Future attempts at compromise, such as the Compromise of 1850, would struggle with similar issues, highlighting that legislative solutions alone could not bridge the widening chasm between North and South, which ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War.

Related terms

Compromise of 1850: A series of legislative measures aimed at resolving disputes between slave and free states, which included provisions like the Fugitive Slave Act and the admission of California as a free state.

Sectionalism: An intense focus on local or regional interests, often leading to conflict between different areas, particularly regarding issues like slavery, which were pivotal during the antebellum period.

Dred Scott Decision: A landmark Supreme Court ruling in 1857 that declared African Americans were not citizens and had no standing to sue in federal court, further intensifying sectional conflicts over slavery.