1. What was the Missouri Compromise?

2. The 24th State
In 1805, the United States Congress organized the land from the Louisiana Purchase into the Louisiana Territory. Many white settlers moved onto the land as treaties were made with Native Americans.

3. Missouri Territory
In 1812, part of the Louisiana Territory became the state of Louisiana. The rest of the territory was divided in two. One piece was the Missouri Territory. The people of the new territory were allowed to send one person to represent them in Congress. In 1817, the people chose John Scott, a respected lawyer.

4. Missouri Territory

5. Missouri Territory
As more and more people moved to Missouri, they wanted greater control over decisions made about the area. They wanted a stronger voice in Congress. They also wanted the benefits of United States citizenship. John Scott listened to these desires. In 1818, he asked Congress to make Missouri a state.

6. The Missouri Compromise
Missouri had enough people to become a state. However, Congress disagreed over whether Missouri should be a slave state or a free state.

7. The Missouri Compromise
In 1818, there were an equal number of free states and slave states in America. Some people wanted the land from the Louisiana Purchase to be free states. The leaders of Missouri wanted Missouri to be a slave state. More than 10,000 slaves lived in Missouri in 1820.

8. The Missouri Compromise
To solve the problem, Henry Clay of Kentucky proposed the Missouri Compromise. He suggested that both Maine and Missouri should be new states. One would be a free state and one would be a slave state. This would allow the numbers of each type of state to remain equal. He also proposed that new states above 36.5° latitude, except for Missouri, would be free states.

9. The Missouri Compromise
Congress agreed to Clay’s plan. Maine became a free state in Missouri became a slave state in 1821.

11. Missouri Compromise
A plan to limit the spread of slavery. Maine was admitted as a free state, and Missouri was admitted as a slave state.
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