How do you think America might be different if Maine had not become a state?

If Maine had not become a state the Louisiana Purchase would not have been divided and the number of free and slave states would not be equal

To understand the potential impact of Maine not becoming a state, let's go through a few steps in analyzing the situation:

1. **Historical Context:** The admission of Maine as a state is closely tied to the issue of balancing free and slave states in the United States. At the time, there was a need to keep an equal number of free and slave states in order to maintain a delicate political balance.

2. **Missouri Compromise:** In 1820, the Missouri Compromise was passed to address the issue of slavery expansion. It admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. In addition, a line was drawn across the Louisiana Purchase territory (at the 36°30′ parallel), prohibiting slavery above it and allowing it below it.

3. **Impact of Maine not becoming a state:** If Maine had not become a state, it would have disrupted the delicate balance of power between free and slave states. Here's how:

- **Louisiana Purchase Division:** Maine's admission as a free state balanced Missouri's admission as a slave state, effectively preserving the equal number of free and slave states. If Maine were not admitted, the entire Louisiana Purchase would not have been divided along the 36°30′ parallel, potentially leading to a different distribution of free and slave states in the territory.

- **Political Implications:** The exclusion of Maine as a free state would have likely upset the political compromise reached through the Missouri Compromise. This could have deepened the divide between the North and South over slavery, potentially leading to more tensions and conflicts in the years to come.

- **Different Statehood Process:** In the absence of Maine becoming a state, the admission process for future territories in the region might have taken a different form. The balance of power regarding the admission of free and slave states could have been negotiated differently, potentially altering the course of American history.

In conclusion, if Maine had not become a state, it would have disrupted the balance between free and slave states achieved through the Missouri Compromise and potentially altered the distribution of states in the Louisiana Purchase. This could have had far-reaching political implications for the United States during a time of significant division over slavery.