The Compromise to maintain balance

 

           The Missouri Compromise came at a time when tensions were high regarding slavery versus non slavery. After a fragile creation of a balance in anti-slaves states vs pro-slave state, Missouri petitioned to be admitted as a state into the slavery states. This would have thrown off the political balance between the divided states and allowed an opportunity for pro-slavery to expand because they held a majority vote.  After over a year of the petition being requested the congress finally passed a two-part compromise allowing Missouri to become part of the pro-slavery states and Maine to be accepted into the anti-slavery state maintaining a balance between the divided country. The Missouri Compromise created an imaginary line known as the Mason Dixon line separating the anti-slavery states from the pro-slavery states. The Missouri Compromise preceded the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854.