Missouri Compromise and Compromise of 1850

There were many rational and somewhat compromising decisions and actions made by those who opposed slavery during the events of the Missouri compromise and the compromise of 1850. These compromises were meant to stop or slow the spread of slavery to the northern states of the United States.

The Missouri compromise included Missouri wanting to enter the union as a slave state. At that time there were eleven slave states and eleven free states. Missouri would have made the states uneven. A political action taken by the government to prevent this from happening was the Tallmadge amendment. This amendment included, “would ban importation of slaves and free the children of current slaves...” This amendment was however defeated in the senate.

In addition with the Missouri compromise there were other political actions taken such as the entry of Maine into the union as a free state and the 30-60 line at the Louisiana Purchase which set a boundary for slave states and free ones. Maine was admitted as a free state from a part of Maryland to even out the states, at this time Henry Clay had proposed Missouri should enter as a slave state, this action once again made the states even. The 30-60 line at the Louisiana Purchase divided the slave states totally from the free ones; this gave a segregated vibe, which ultimately stopped the spread of slavery to the north by setting a tangible boundary.

Lastly, a political action made during this period of time was the events of the Compromise of 1850. This question of westward expansion was thought at first to solve the question of slavery in territories. California was admitted as a free state and New Mexico and Utah were both organized as territories without slavery but the decision to decide if they chose to enter the states. These