The Missouri Compromise of 1820-1821 balanced the number of free and slave states in the US by admitting Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state. It also addressed future slavery issues and required the return of runaway slaves. The compromise was eventually rescinded by the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854.
The Missouri Compromise involved a series of acts of the United States Congress in 1820-1821 to even out the number of free states and slave states in the Union. When Missouri petitioned for statehood in 1819, the number of free and slave states was equal. A debate ensued as to whether Missouri should be admitted as a state that allowed slavery or a state that prohibited slavery. Congress eventually compromised, making Maine a free state and Missouri a slave state, keeping the distribution even. The Missouri Compromise also defined how the slave versus free state debate would be handled in the future to avoid further debate.
Before Missouri sought statehood, 11 states did not allow slavery and 11 did. States with slavery were adamant about preserving their way of life, while abolitionists in Northern states were equally enthusiastic about wanting slaves freed. Both free and slave states had equal representation in the Senate. However, the population in the free states was larger, giving the group a larger representation in the House of Representatives.
Because Missouri was settled by Southerners, it was expected that the state would want to allow slavery. In 1819, James Tallmadge, a member of the New York House of Representatives, offered an amendment designed to prevent the further introduction of slaves into Missouri Territory and the freeing of slaves in the area. The measure passed the House but not the Senate.
The Missouri Compromise allowed both sides of the slavery issue to get something they wanted. In 1820, the northern state of Maine was admitted to the Union as a free state. In turn, Missouri was admitted as a state that allowed slavery. it allowed the number of slave and free states to once again have equal amounts of representation in Congress.
In addition to introducing a slave state and a free state in the Union, the Missouri Compromise also addressed how issues of state slavery should be handled in the future. Under the compromise, the remainder of the Louisiana Purchase territory north of Missouri’s southern border would be slave-free. The measure also required people in free states to return runaway slaves to their owners.
Henry Clay, who was Speaker of the House at the time, is credited with helping lead the Missouri Compromise. The act was eventually signed by President James Monroe. The legislation did not permanently end the slavery debate, and the Missouri Compromise was eventually rescinded by the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, which allowed the new settlements of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within of their borders.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
