mar 2, 1820 - Missouri Compromise

Description:

Politicians have attempted to preserve a sectional balance between the North and the South. Keeping a balance in the House of Representatives was difficult because population I the North was growing more rapidly than in the South. By 1818 the northern sates held a majority. However, in the Senate, the votes remained divided evenly, with eleven states each. As long as this balance is maintain, the South can block legislation from the North and vice versa. Missouri wanted to become
a state. This is worrisome because if it would come in as a slave state, it would tip the balance that is held. It was also the first state from the Louisiana Purchase to ask to get statehood. Henry Clay compromised and joined three suggested bills into one, which suggests that you include Missouri as a slave state, Maine as a free state, and prohibit slavery from the line of 36 30 in the Louisiana Territory purchased. Both houses passed the bills and this just subsided the issue of slvery further down the line.

Added to timeline:

Date: