Missouri Compromise

Definition

The Missouri Compromise was a significant legislative agreement reached in 1820 that aimed to balance the power between slave and free states in the United States. It allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state while Maine was admitted as a free state, maintaining a balance in the Senate. Additionally, it established the 36°30′ parallel as the dividing line for future states, determining which territories would be free or slave states, directly influencing the evolution of the political landscape leading to the Second Party System.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Missouri Compromise was proposed by Henry Clay and was crucial in delaying the Civil War by temporarily easing tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions.
2. The compromise established the 36°30′ parallel as a boundary line; north of this line (except Missouri), states would be free while south could allow slavery.
3. Maine was admitted as a free state to offset Missouri's admission as a slave state, maintaining an even number of free and slave states in Congress.
4. The Missouri Compromise was viewed as a temporary solution, illustrating the growing sectional divides that would later contribute to the emergence of new political parties.
5. Although it provided a short-term resolution, the Missouri Compromise ultimately failed to address the underlying issues of slavery, setting the stage for more contentious debates and conflict in future years.

Review Questions

• How did the Missouri Compromise impact the political balance between slave and free states in the early 19th century?
  • The Missouri Compromise significantly impacted the political balance by allowing Missouri to enter as a slave state and Maine as a free state. This maintained an equal number of slave and free states in Congress, which was crucial for preventing one side from dominating legislative power. The compromise also set a geographical boundary at the 36°30′ parallel that determined future states' status regarding slavery, reflecting ongoing tensions and efforts to maintain stability in a divided nation.
• Analyze how the Missouri Compromise contributed to the evolution of political parties during this period.
  • The Missouri Compromise played a pivotal role in shaping political parties by highlighting the sectional divisions within existing parties. The Democratic Party largely supported slavery, while factions emerged within the Whig Party as members debated their stance on slavery's expansion. This division contributed to the formation of new parties such as the Republican Party, which arose from anti-slavery sentiment, illustrating how legislative compromises influenced party dynamics and realignment during the evolution of the Second Party System.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the Missouri Compromise on American politics leading up to the Civil War.
  • The long-term effects of the Missouri Compromise were profound, as it ultimately failed to resolve the deep-rooted issues surrounding slavery. While it temporarily maintained peace between slave and free states, it set a precedent for future conflicts over territorial expansion and slavery. The eventual repeal through acts like the Kansas-Nebraska Act further escalated tensions, leading to violence in 'Bleeding Kansas' and eventually contributing to the rise of sectionalism that fueled civil unrest. This pattern illustrated how short-term compromises could lead to greater instability in American politics.

Related terms

Compromise of 1850: A series of laws passed in 1850 aimed at resolving tensions between slave and free states, including admitting California as a free state and strengthening fugitive slave laws.

Kansas-Nebraska Act:

An 1854 law that allowed settlers in Kansas and Nebraska to determine if they would allow slavery, effectively repealing the Missouri Compromise and leading to violent conflict known as 'Bleeding Kansas.'

Dred Scott Decision: An 1857 Supreme Court case that ruled that African Americans could not be American citizens and declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, further escalating tensions over slavery.