Missouri Compromise

Definition

The Missouri Compromise was a legislative agreement made in 1820 to maintain the balance of power between free and slave states in the United States. It admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, while establishing a line (the 36°30' parallel) across the Louisiana Territory, above which slavery would be prohibited. This compromise was significant in shaping the legal and social foundations of the slave system, as it attempted to address the contentious issue of slavery's expansion into new territories.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Missouri Compromise was crafted by Henry Clay, who is often referred to as the 'Great Compromiser' for his role in resolving sectional tensions.
2. The compromise temporarily eased tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions but ultimately failed to provide a lasting solution to the issue of slavery.
3. The 36°30' parallel established by the Missouri Compromise served as a dividing line for future states entering the Union, influencing debates over slavery for decades.
4. The Missouri Compromise was later deemed unconstitutional by the Dred Scott Decision, which nullified the legal basis for restricting slavery in certain territories.
5. The political fallout from the Missouri Compromise contributed to the rise of sectionalism, setting the stage for increasing conflict that would lead to the Civil War.

Review Questions

• How did the Missouri Compromise address the balance of power between slave and free states, and what were its immediate effects?
  • The Missouri Compromise addressed the balance of power by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, ensuring an equal number of slave and free states in Congress. This was intended to reduce tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions by establishing a clear boundary for slavery's expansion. However, while it momentarily eased tensions, it also highlighted the deep divisions within the country over the issue of slavery, foreshadowing future conflicts.
• In what ways did the Missouri Compromise set a precedent for future legislative attempts to address slavery in new territories?
  • The Missouri Compromise established a framework for future legislative attempts by creating geographical boundaries concerning slavery's expansion. The use of latitude lines to delineate free and slave territories became a model that influenced subsequent legislation, such as the Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act. However, these later compromises often faced significant opposition and ultimately demonstrated the growing inability of legislative measures to resolve the escalating conflict over slavery.
• Evaluate the long-term impacts of the Missouri Compromise on American society and politics leading up to the Civil War.
  • The long-term impacts of the Missouri Compromise were significant, as it contributed to rising sectional tensions that ultimately led to the Civil War. While it initially provided a temporary solution, its failure to effectively address the underlying issues of slavery only intensified disputes between North and South. The compromises that followed, increasingly contentious legislation like the Kansas-Nebraska Act, further polarized American society. By setting a precedent for compromise yet failing to create lasting resolutions, it exemplified how legislative attempts could not quell deeply rooted societal divisions.

Related terms

Compromise of 1850: A set of laws passed in 1850 that aimed to resolve conflicts arising from the Mexican-American War by addressing issues related to slavery and territorial expansion.

Kansas-Nebraska Act: An 1854 law that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, allowing settlers to decide whether to allow slavery, leading to violent conflict known as 'Bleeding Kansas.'

Dred Scott Decision: 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.