In 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France, thus doubling the size of the United States. The new edition to the country caused a problem, however. A decision had to be made as to which parts of the new territory would be slave states and which would be free states. In the years prior to 1820 when the Missouri Compromise was passed, tensions concerning slavery grew across the country. When applying for statehood, Missouri caused a lot of conflict between the north and southern states. Before Missouri became a state, the number of states in the north equaled the number of states in the south. However, if Missouri joined either side, there would be an uneven number of states. The North feared that if Missouri became
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The application came to Henry Clays’ attention and stated that if Maine were to be admitted, then so should Missouri. Clay announced that Missouri would be a slave state while Maine acted as a free state. Following what Clay said, Senator Jesse Thomas proposed a bill to allow slavery anywhere below the 36º 30’ line, but made it illegal anywhere above the line. In February of 1820, Thomas’s bill stated that, “‘And be it further enacted, That in all territory ceded by France to the United States, under the name of Louisiana, which lies north of thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes north latitude, excepting only such part thereof as is included within the limits of the State contemplated by this act, slavery and involuntary servitude, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duty convicted, shall be and is hereby forever prohibited: Provided always, That any person escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed in any State or Territory of the United States, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed, and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or service, as aforesaid’” ( The Missouri Compromise led to a series of events that changed society in America. This led to the abolition of slavery north of the parallel. With no slavery allowed to the north, every new state admitted would keep the
The application came to Henry Clays’ attention and stated that if Maine were to be admitted, then so should Missouri. Clay announced that Missouri would be a slave state while Maine acted as a free state. Following what Clay said, Senator Jesse Thomas proposed a bill to allow slavery anywhere below the 36º 30’ line, but made it illegal anywhere above the line. In February of 1820, Thomas’s bill stated that, “‘And be it further enacted, That in all territory ceded by France to the United States, under the name of Louisiana, which lies north of thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes north latitude, excepting only such part thereof as is included within the limits of the State contemplated by this act, slavery and involuntary servitude, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duty convicted, shall be and is hereby forever prohibited: Provided always, That any person escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed in any State or Territory of the United States, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed, and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or service, as aforesaid’” ( The Missouri Compromise led to a series of events that changed society in America. This led to the abolition of slavery north of the parallel. With no slavery allowed to the north, every new state admitted would keep the