why did Missouri application to join the union as a slave state spark a crisis?
Because it meant that there was a balance of slave states versus non-slave states. The balance of power was shifting the wrong way : (
The application by Missouri to join the Union as a slave state in 1819 sparked a crisis primarily due to the balance of power between the slave-holding and non-slave-holding states.
To truly understand the reasons behind this crisis, we need to look at the broader political and social landscape of the time. During the early 19th century, the United States had a precarious balance between states that allowed slavery (mostly in the South) and those that did not (mostly in the North). This balance was known as the "Slave and Free States Balance" or the "Sectional Balance."
The admission of Missouri into the Union as a slave state disrupted this balance. At that time, there were 11 free states and 11 slave states. Prior to Missouri's application, both sides had roughly equal representation in the Senate, the legislative body where each state is represented equally regardless of population.
The issue arose when it became apparent that admitting Missouri as a slave state would upset the balance of power in the Senate. This meant that the southern states would have greater representation in Congress, which could potentially impact the future of slavery and the ability of the free states to influence policy decisions.
Furthermore, the admission of Missouri as a slave state had broader implications for the expansion of slavery into new territories. This reignited debates about the morality and future of slavery in America, with conflicting views on whether new states should allow or prohibit slavery.
The debate over Missouri's admission quickly escalated into a much larger controversy known as the Missouri Compromise. This compromise, passed in 1820, admitted Missouri as a slave state but also established a line across the Louisiana Purchase territory (at the 36°30′ parallel) where slavery would be prohibited in future states north of that line. This line was meant to restore the sectional balance and temporarily resolve the crisis.
However, it is important to note that the Missouri Crisis was just one of the many events and debates leading up to the American Civil War. The deeply rooted disagreements over slavery eventually surpassed any attempts at compromise, leading to a more violent and deadly conflict in the years that followed.
In summary, the crisis was sparked by the potential disruption of the balance of power between slave and free states in Congress, as well as the broader debates and disagreements over the expansion of slavery into new territories.