The Missouri Compromise of 1820 attempted to solve the issue of slavery by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state to maintain the balance of power in Congress. It also established the 36°30' parallel as a dividing line where slavery would be permitted south of this line in the Louisiana Territory but prohibited to the north. This compromise was intended to put the issue of slavery to rest but only succeeded in doing so for approximately 25 years.

1. Attempt
to solve
a
problem

2. Solution?
• In 1820, Congress, with the
leadership of Henry Clay
(“The Great Compromiser”)
seemed to put the issue of
slavery to rest when they
agreed to the Missouri
Compromise.

3. Solution?
•The compromise brought
Missouri into the Union as
a slave state and allowed
Maine in as a free state.

4. Solution?
•It also set the boundary of
o
slavery as the 36 30’ line
(the southern border of
Missouri) as the dividing
line for slavery.

5. Solution?
•The line allowed for
slavery South of that line
and no slavery would be
allowed to the North of it
and was only applied to
the Louisiana Territory.

6. Solution?
•Both sides believed that
this would put the issue
of slavery to rest, and it
did, for about 25 years.