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The Missouri Compromise: Balancing Slavery and Statehood
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was a pivotal piece of legislation in American history. It aimed to address the growing sectional tensions over the issue of slavery, which had been intensifying as the nation expanded westward. Let’s get into the details of this significant compromise.
Casey Adams
3/2/20242 min read
Background and Context
Pro- and Anti-Slavery Factions in Congress
When the Missouri Territory applied for statehood in 1818, it became clear that many residents wanted to allow slavery within the new state.
Missouri, part of the vast Louisiana Purchase acquired from France in 1803, had been known as the Louisiana Territory until 1812 when it was renamed to avoid confusion with the newly admitted state of Louisiana.
However, Missouri’s bid to become the first state west of the Mississippi River and its desire to permit slavery sparked a bitter debate in Congress.
In the North, where abolitionist sentiment was growing, many opposed the extension of slavery into new territories.
They feared that adding Missouri as a slave state would upset the delicate balance between slave and free states in the Union.
On the other hand, pro-slavery Southerners argued that new states should have the freedom to choose whether to permit slavery or not.
The First Attempt: Tallmadge’s Amendment
During the initial statehood application process, Representative James Tallmadge of New York proposed an amendment to the bill.
His amendment aimed to gradually end slavery in Missouri and free the existing enslaved workers living there.
The amended bill narrowly passed in the House of Representatives, where Northerners held a slight edge.
However, in the Senate, where free and slave states had equal representation, the pro-slavery faction managed to strike out Tallmadge’s amendment.
Consequently, the House refused to pass the bill without it.
The Two-Part Compromise
After this stalemate, Missouri renewed its application for statehood in late 1819. This time, Speaker of the House Henry Clay proposed a two-part compromise:
Missouri as a Slave State: Congress would admit Missouri to the Union as a state that allowed slavery.
Maine as a Free State: Simultaneously, Maine (which was then part of Massachusetts) would be admitted as a free state.
Additionally, the compromise included a critical provision: banning slavery from the remaining Louisiana Purchase lands located north of the 36º 30’ parallel (the southern border of Missouri).
Impact and Legacy
The Missouri Compromise temporarily eased tensions, maintaining the delicate balance between slave and free states.
However, it would remain in force for just over 30 years before being repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854.
Furthermore, the Dred Scott decision by the Supreme Court in 1857 declared the compromise unconstitutional, ultimately contributing to the eruption of the American Civil War.
Conclusion:
The Missouri Compromise was a critical moment in American history—a delicate dance between competing interests that shaped the nation’s path toward the Civil War and its ultimate resolution.
For more information, you can explore the HISTORY article on the Missouri Compromise1.
Remember, history is a tapestry woven with compromises, conflicts, and consequences—each thread contributing to the fabric of our shared story.
