Missouri Compromise Of 1850

By the 1800s Westward expansion had been transpiring significantly in the United States with the gaining of new territories through prominent occurrences including the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican-American War. As new states were admitted into the union the imperative issue of slavery expansion arose as the states would have to decide if the new additions would utilize the institution of slavery. The preservation of the balance maintained between the number of slave states and free states was prevalent in constituting resolutions to the slavery issues. The issue of slavery expansion in the western territories repeatedly emerged, provoking conflict between Northerners and Southerners because of the balance of power shared between the northern, free states and the southern, slave states. Both sides feared one would become superior and, therefore, oppress the beliefs and abilities of the other side.

The issue of slavery expansion in the West emerged significantly with Missouri’s intention of entering into the union as a slave state, thus enabling the constitution of the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Through Missouri’s aspirations the stabilization of power between the free states and slave states in the senate was undone. To revitalize the equilibrium, a consensus was reached where Missouri would enter as a slave state, with Maine entering a free state to sustain the balance. In subsequent years as the United States gained new territories though the Mexican-American War the slavery expansions disputes reemerged in the senate. California sought admission into the union as a free state, and the equal balance of slave states and free states was,