In the early 1800s, tensions between the northern and southern states in America were high regarding issues such as slavery and representation in government. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was designed to address some of these issues and provide a temporary solution.
So, what agreements were made in the Missouri Compromise?
Firstly, the compromise allowed Missouri to enter the United States as a slave state, while Maine would enter as a free state. This was intended to maintain a balance of power between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces in Congress.
Secondly, the compromise established a line of latitude (36°30′ N) that would separate free and slave territories in the western territories of the Louisiana Purchase. Any new states formed north of this line would be free, while those south of the line could permit slavery.
While the Missouri Compromise may have provided a temporary solution to some of the issues facing the nation at the time, it ultimately failed to solve the underlying tensions between the northern and southern states. The compromise was eventually overturned by the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which allowed for popular sovereignty in determining whether a state would be free or slave.
In conclusion, the Missouri Compromise of 1820 was a significant agreement that attempted to address issues surrounding slavery and representation in government. While it helped to maintain a balance of power for a time, it ultimately failed to solve the deeper issues that would lead to the Civil War.