USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The compromise divided the lands of the Louisiana Purchase into two parts. Slavery would be allowed south of latitude 36 degrees 30’. But north of that line, slavery would be forbidden, except in the new state of Missouri.

Detailed explanation-2: -This legislation admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a non-slave state at the same time, so as not to upset the balance between slave and free states in the nation. It also outlawed slavery above the 36º 30’ latitude line in the remainder of the Louisiana Territory.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Missouri Compromise was accepted because it: 1) maintained congressional balance in the Senate, 2) allowed for certain new territories to be slave states, and 3) allowed certain new territories to be non-slavery states.

Detailed explanation-4: -It marked the beginning of the prolonged sectional conflict over the extension of slavery that led to the American Civil War.