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Missouri Compromise of 1820

Definition

An agreement passed in 1820 between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in Congress, admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state while prohibiting slavery north of latitude 36°30′ within Louisiana Territory.

Analogy

It's like dividing a pizza evenly among friends - one side wants pepperoni (slave states), the other wants cheese (free states). To keep everyone happy, you decide to make half the pizza with pepperoni and half with cheese. Similarly, Missouri Compromise tried to maintain balance between free and slave states.

Related terms

Compromise of 1850: A package of five separate bills passed by Congress that defused political confrontation between slave and free states on status of territories acquired during Mexican-American War.

Kansas-Nebraska Act: An act allowing settlers in newly organized territories north of Missouri border decide whether or not allow slavery within their region's boundaries.

Bleeding Kansas: A series of violent civil confrontations in Kansas territory between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions over whether Kansas should enter Union as a slave or free state.