The Missouri Compromise solved a problem that had been brewing in the United States over the issue of slavery. It allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a state where slavery was permitted, while banning slavery in certain other places. Passed by the U.S. Congress in 1820, it marked the beginning of the conflict over the spread of slavery that led to the American Civil War. In 1818 the Missouri territory applied for statehood. At that time there were 11 free states and 11 slave states in the Union. Slavery had been practiced in Missouri for many years. The admission of Missouri would therefore upset the balance of states. The U.S. Congress could not agree on whether to allow Missouri to join the Union. Finally, late in 1819 Maine also applied for admission to the Union, and a way was seen to maintain the balance of power. Representative Henry Clay of Kentucky, who came to be called the Great Compromiser, came up with the plan. The lawmakers agreed that Maine would be admitted as a free state and Missouri as a slave state. In addition, Missouri's southern border would mark the northern limit of where slavery would be allowed in any other new state. The Missouri Compromise held for about 30 years, until Kansas and Nebraska wanted to join the Union. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 changed the law concerning where slavery would be allowed. |