Prior to the time of the Missouri compromise, there were an equal number of slave states to free states thus there was an equal balance of power in congress. Once Missouri had applied for admission into the union there was instant disapproval from the northern territories for they had thought that the south already had a substantial amount of power. The Missouri compromise was a way to balance congress of free and slave states. The compromise itself was passed in 1820 giving Missouri the title of a slave state and Maine the title of a free state. Therefore it settled a rising dispute between the slave and free territories. Included in this new law was the concept that slavery was not acceptable north of the line thirty-six thirty latitude.
