Question

According to the Missouri Compromise how were Maine and Missouri to be admitted to the Union?

Answer 1

Hint: The Missouri Compromise was passed in 1820. There was rise in new challenges regarding the question of slavery in America which led to the Missouri Compromise.

Complete answer: The Missouri Compromise included Mississippi among the Union as a slave state and Maine was made a free state. It also banned Louisiana from slavery. The Missouri compromise was to remain in force for a period of 30 years. It was to be repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This act allowed settlers to decide whether slavery was to be permitted within the new state borders. In 1818 Missouri applied for statehood. It was very clear that the territory wanted slavery to be permitted within the new state. This set off a debate in Congress which was divided on the grounds of pro and anti slavery.
James Tallmadge of New York presented the statehood bill which would lead to the end of slavery in Missouri. It would eventually free the enslaved people. However this amendment was striked out by the pro-slavery senators. Later there was support for the Tallmadge proposal and most of Missouri came out on behalf on anti slavery. In 1819, the Congress was requested to grant statehood to Maine. There were 22 states. Half of them were free and half under slavery.

Note: Maine was declared a free state and Missouri was provided access to slavery without any restrictions. This compromise worked for 30 years. One free and one under slavery. This compromise was used by the U.S Senate to maintain a balance between the free states and the states under slavery.