Background information
The issue of slavery was on the rise. Missouri wanted to become a slave state, thus unbalancing the equal ratio of free states to slave states which would in turn, give more power to the south in the senate, and set a precedent of manifest destiny to continue to the rest of the expanding nation. The north opposed Missouri as a slave state because it could lead to larger more problematic events. Key figures such as Henry Clay attempted to solve this predicament by proposing the compromise of 1820 known as the Missouri Compromise. James Monroe was the current president at the time, and he, despite facing an economic panic in 1819 won reelection in 1820. He had strong support, because the initial compromise seemed to work for the south and the north.
Initially
In the House of Representatives the Tallmadge amendment was created to limit slavery stating that there couldn't be anymore slaves in the territories and children born into slavery could eventually be free with time. The south was greatly opposed to this amendment, they viewed it as a bigger picture, if this passes then eventually slavery will be banned altogether in the nation. Even though the north has more population and therefore more representation in the House of Representatives, the senate is balanced between the north and the south, so the south can prevent any unwanted acts that go against slavery.
What...
The compromise stated that Missouri would be admitted as a slave state, but with this addition, there would still be a balance because Maine would be admitted as a free state. Thus moving the balance of 11 free and 11 slave states to 12 free and 12 slave states. The most important idea that arose from this compromise is the line that was drawn to stop further expansion of slavery. This line was drawn east to west at 36°30. All states north of the line are free, and all states to the south of the line could be slave states.
Effect
The compromise was fairly balanced at the time, but for years to come it became a huge issue because of how quickly the nation began to expand westward. The compromise of 1820 worked for 26 more years until new lands gained by Mexico under the Polk administration arose. This compromise was temporary because the compromise was unreasonable to begin with. Nobody expected to gain so much territory in only a few decades, so when that happened, there was an immediate change to what exactly should be done with the land. The south wanted slavery for cotton, but the north was completely against it. This compromise sparked the eventual need to stop compromising, and focus on the issues. The issues of splitting the land acquired became a problem also whether to bring them in as free or slave states. Arguments were imminent, and from this, the first steps to Civil War would emerge.
The issue of slavery was on the rise. Missouri wanted to become a slave state, thus unbalancing the equal ratio of free states to slave states which would in turn, give more power to the south in the senate, and set a precedent of manifest destiny to continue to the rest of the expanding nation. The north opposed Missouri as a slave state because it could lead to larger more problematic events. Key figures such as Henry Clay attempted to solve this predicament by proposing the compromise of 1820 known as the Missouri Compromise. James Monroe was the current president at the time, and he, despite facing an economic panic in 1819 won reelection in 1820. He had strong support, because the initial compromise seemed to work for the south and the north.
Initially
In the House of Representatives the Tallmadge amendment was created to limit slavery stating that there couldn't be anymore slaves in the territories and children born into slavery could eventually be free with time. The south was greatly opposed to this amendment, they viewed it as a bigger picture, if this passes then eventually slavery will be banned altogether in the nation. Even though the north has more population and therefore more representation in the House of Representatives, the senate is balanced between the north and the south, so the south can prevent any unwanted acts that go against slavery.
What...
The compromise stated that Missouri would be admitted as a slave state, but with this addition, there would still be a balance because Maine would be admitted as a free state. Thus moving the balance of 11 free and 11 slave states to 12 free and 12 slave states. The most important idea that arose from this compromise is the line that was drawn to stop further expansion of slavery. This line was drawn east to west at 36°30. All states north of the line are free, and all states to the south of the line could be slave states.
Effect
The compromise was fairly balanced at the time, but for years to come it became a huge issue because of how quickly the nation began to expand westward. The compromise of 1820 worked for 26 more years until new lands gained by Mexico under the Polk administration arose. This compromise was temporary because the compromise was unreasonable to begin with. Nobody expected to gain so much territory in only a few decades, so when that happened, there was an immediate change to what exactly should be done with the land. The south wanted slavery for cotton, but the north was completely against it. This compromise sparked the eventual need to stop compromising, and focus on the issues. The issues of splitting the land acquired became a problem also whether to bring them in as free or slave states. Arguments were imminent, and from this, the first steps to Civil War would emerge.