Missouri Compromise

Missouri Compromise
03/06/1820 AD decreed

Federal legislation that admits Maine to the United States as a free state, simultaneously with Missouri as a slave state, thus maintaining the balance of power between North and South in the US Senate.

As part of the compromise, the legislation prohibits slavery north of the 36°30′ parallel except for Missouri. The 16th United States Congress passed the legislation on March 3, and the President signs it three days later.

Representatives from the North outnumbered those from the South in House membership 105 to 81. When each of the restrictionist provisions were put to the vote, they passed along sectional lines: 87 to 76 for prohibition on further slave migration into Missouri and 82 to 78 for emancipating the offspring of slaves at 25.

House vote on restricting slavery in Missouri

Washington, D.C.

Lattitude: 38.9072° N
Longitude: 77.0369° W
Region: North America

Modern Day United States

Events in 1820 MORE