What did the Missouri compromise of 1820 do
Start a war? Invent Maine?
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was a legislative measure passed by the United States Congress to address the issue of slavery in the newly acquired territories and maintain the balance between free and slave states. Here are the steps of the Missouri Compromise:
1. Background: In 1819, the United States was facing the admission of Missouri as a new state. However, the issue arose when Missouri's application for statehood included provisions allowing slavery.
2. Tallmadge Amendment: In response to Missouri's application, James Tallmadge, Jr., a representative from New York, proposed an amendment that would gradually abolish slavery in Missouri. It aimed to impose restrictions on the future introduction of slaves into the state and to provide for the eventual emancipation of the existing enslaved population.
3. Compromise: The Tallmadge Amendment caused debates and sectional tensions in Congress, as it challenged the balance between free and slave states. As a result, a bipartisan committee was formed to find a compromise.
4. Missouri Compromise: The Missouri Compromise was introduced by Henry Clay, a senator from Kentucky, in 1820. It consisted of three key elements:
a. Missouri's statehood: Missouri would be admitted to the Union as a slave state, allowing the expansion of slavery.
b. Maine's statehood: To preserve the balance in the Senate, Maine (which was part of Massachusetts at the time) would be admitted as a free state.
c. Future slavery: Slavery would be prohibited in all new states or territories north of the 36°30' parallel line, which was the southern border of Missouri (excluding Missouri itself).
5. Approval and Implementation: The Missouri Compromise was approved by Congress and signed into law by President James Monroe on March 6, 1820.
6. Longevity and Impact: The Missouri Compromise temporarily eased tensions between the North and South regarding the issue of slavery. It preserved the balance of power in the Senate, with an equal number of slave and free states. However, it ultimately failed to resolve the underlying disputes over slavery and contributed to the sectional divide, leading to further conflicts in the years that followed.
It is important to note that the Missouri Compromise was later repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which allowed popular sovereignty to determine the issue of slavery in new territories.
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was an important piece of legislation passed by the United States Congress to address the issue of slavery expansion into new territories. It had several key provisions:
1. Missouri: It admitted Missouri to the Union as a slave state, thereby maintaining the balance between free and slave states.
2. Maine: It admitted Maine as a free state to also maintain the balance.
3. 36°30' Parallel: It established a dividing line at the 36°30' parallel, with slavery prohibited north of the line in the remaining territory of the Louisiana Purchase (except for Missouri).
To find this information, you can use various reliable sources such as history textbooks, online encyclopedias, or government websites.