Background to the Missouri Compromise

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 136 views

The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was a significant event in American history that played a crucial role in shaping the country's future. The compromise was a series of agreements reached between Congress and the state of Missouri that addressed the issue of slavery in the newly admitted states. In this article, we will explore the key components of the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and its impact on American history.

Background to the Missouri Compromise

The Missouri Compromise was a response to the admission of Missouri as a slave state in 1820. The compromise was necessary because the admission of Missouri as a slave state would have upset the balance of power in the Senate, where slave and free states were evenly represented. The compromise was also a response to the growing tensions between the North and South over the issue of slavery.

Key Components of the Missouri Compromise

The Missouri Compromise of 1820 consisted of several key components, including:

Admission of Missouri as a Slave State

The first component of the Missouri Compromise was the admission of Missouri as a slave state. Missouri had applied for statehood in 1819, but its admission was delayed due to the controversy over slavery. The compromise allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state, but it also established a boundary between slave and free states.

Establishment of the 36 Degrees 30 Minutes Parallel as the Boundary

The second component of the Missouri Compromise was the establishment of the 36 degrees 30 minutes parallel as the boundary between slave and free states. This boundary was established to prevent the spread of slavery into new territories. The 36 degrees 30 minutes parallel was chosen because it was the latitude of the Missouri River, which was the border between the slave and free states.

Annexation of Arkansas as a Slave State

The third component of the Missouri Compromise was the annexation of Arkansas as a slave state. Arkansas had applied for statehood in 1820, and the compromise allowed it to enter the Union as a slave state.

Abolition of Slavery in the Louisiana Territory

The fourth component of the Missouri Compromise was the abolition of slavery in the Louisiana Territory north of the 36 degrees 30 minutes parallel. This provision prohibited slavery in the territories that were north of the Missouri River and west of the Mississippi River.

Admission of Maine as a Free State

The fifth component of the Missouri Compromise was the admission of Maine as a free state. Maine had applied for statehood in 1819, and the compromise allowed it to enter the Union as a free state.

Impact of the Missouri Compromise

The Missouri Compromise had a significant impact on American history. It:

Established the 36 Degrees 30 Minutes Parallel as the Boundary: The compromise established the 36 degrees 30 minutes parallel as the boundary between slave and free states. This boundary was established to prevent the spread of slavery into new territories.
Prevented the Spread of Slavery: The compromise prevented the spread of slavery into new territories by establishing the 36 degrees 30 minutes parallel as the boundary.
Allowed Missouri to Enter the Union: The compromise allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state.
Allowed Maine to Enter the Union: The compromise allowed Maine to enter the Union as a free state.
Delayed the Civil War: The compromise delayed the Civil War by preventing the spread of slavery into new territories.

Conclusion

The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was a significant event in American history that played a crucial role in shaping the country's future. The compromise consisted of several key components, including the admission of Missouri as a slave state, the establishment of the 36 degrees 30 minutes parallel as the boundary, the annexation of Arkansas as a slave state, the abolition of slavery in the Louisiana Territory, and the admission of Maine as a free state. The compromise had a significant impact on American history, including the establishment of the 36 degrees 30 minutes parallel as the boundary, the prevention of the spread of slavery, the admission of Missouri and Maine to the Union, and the delay of the Civil War.

References

"The Missouri Compromise" by the Library of Congress
"The Missouri Compromise of 1820" by the National Archives
"The Missouri Compromise" by the History Channel
"The Missouri Compromise" by the Smithsonian Institution

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Missouri Compromise? The Missouri Compromise was a series of agreements reached between Congress and the state of Missouri that addressed the issue of slavery in the newly admitted states.
What were the key components of the Missouri Compromise? The key components of the Missouri Compromise included the admission of Missouri as a slave state, the establishment of the 36 degrees 30 minutes parallel as the boundary, the annexation of Arkansas as a slave state, the abolition of slavery in the Louisiana Territory, and the admission of Maine as a free state.
What was the impact of the Missouri Compromise? The Missouri Compromise had a significant impact on American history, including the establishment of the 36 degrees 30 minutes parallel as the boundary, the prevention of the spread of slavery, the admission of Missouri and Maine to the Union, and the delay of the Civil War.
Frequently Asked Questions: The Missouri Compromise =====================================================

The Missouri Compromise was a significant event in American history that played a crucial role in shaping the country's future. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the Missouri Compromise.

Q: What was the Missouri Compromise?

A: The Missouri Compromise was a series of agreements reached between Congress and the state of Missouri that addressed the issue of slavery in the newly admitted states.

Q: What were the key components of the Missouri Compromise?

A: The key components of the Missouri Compromise included:

Admission of Missouri as a Slave State: The compromise allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state.
Establishment of the 36 Degrees 30 Minutes Parallel as the Boundary: The compromise established the 36 degrees 30 minutes parallel as the boundary between slave and free states.
Annexation of Arkansas as a Slave State: The compromise allowed Arkansas to enter the Union as a slave state.
Abolition of Slavery in the Louisiana Territory: The compromise prohibited slavery in the territories that were north of the Missouri River and west of the Mississippi River.
Admission of Maine as a Free State: The compromise allowed Maine to enter the Union as a free state.

Q: What was the impact of the Missouri Compromise?

A: The Missouri Compromise had a significant impact on American history, including:

Establishment of the 36 Degrees 30 Minutes Parallel as the Boundary: The compromise established the 36 degrees 30 minutes parallel as the boundary between slave and free states.
Prevention of the Spread of Slavery: The compromise prevented the spread of slavery into new territories.
Admission of Missouri and Maine to the Union: The compromise allowed Missouri and Maine to enter the Union as slave and free states, respectively.
Delay of the Civil War: The compromise delayed the Civil War by preventing the spread of slavery into new territories.

Q: Why was the Missouri Compromise necessary?

A: The Missouri Compromise was necessary because the admission of Missouri as a slave state would have upset the balance of power in the Senate, where slave and free states were evenly represented. The compromise was also a response to the growing tensions between the North and South over the issue of slavery.

Q: What were the long-term effects of the Missouri Compromise?

A: The long-term effects of the Missouri Compromise included:

The Kansas-Nebraska Act: The compromise led to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed new states to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery.
The Dred Scott Decision: The compromise led to the Dred Scott Decision, which ruled that slaves were not citizens and had no right to sue in court.
The Civil War: The compromise delayed the Civil War, but ultimately contributed to its outbreak.

Q: What can we learn from the Missouri Compromise?

A: We can learn several lessons from the Missouri Compromise, including:

The importance of compromise: The Missouri Compromise shows the importance of compromise in resolving conflicts and addressing complex issues.
The dangers of slavery: The Missouri Compromise highlights the dangers of slavery and the need to address the issue in a fair and just manner.
The importance of understanding history: The Missouri Compromise shows the importance of understanding history and learning from the past to build a better future.

Conclusion

The Missouri Compromise was a significant event in American history that played a crucial role in shaping the country's future. The compromise consisted of several key components, including the admission of Missouri as a slave state, the establishment of the 36 degrees 30 minutes parallel as the boundary, the annexation of Arkansas as a slave state, the abolition of slavery in the Louisiana Territory, and the admission of Maine as a free state. The compromise had a significant impact on American history, including the establishment of the 36 degrees 30 minutes parallel as the boundary, the prevention of the spread of slavery, the admission of Missouri and Maine to the Union, and the delay of the Civil War.