1. Preservation of Slavery:
Southern states firmly believed in the institution of slavery, considering it vital to their economy and social structure. The Missouri Compromise, by admitting Missouri as a slave state and balancing it with the admission of Maine as a free state, threatened the South's political power and economic interests in the future.
2. Constitutional Rights and State Sovereignty:
Southern states argued that the Constitution did not explicitly grant the federal government the power to restrict slavery in new states. They asserted their states' rights to determine their internal affairs, including the legality of slavery within their borders.
3. Balance of Power in Congress and the Electoral College:
Adding new free and slave states to the Union would upset the delicate balance of power in Congress and the Electoral College. The admission of Missouri as a slave state was seen as increasing Southern political power and diminishing the North's influence in national decision-making.
Compromise to Address Southern Concerns:
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 included several key provisions to address the concerns of Southern states:
- The admission of Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, ensuring equal representation in the Senate.
- The establishment of a dividing line at 36°30' north latitude, the southern boundary of Missouri.
This line would determine the boundary between slave and free territories in future annexations. Areas north of this line would be free states, while those south would be slave states.
- The prohibition of slavery in the Louisiana Territory north of the 36°30' line, except for Missouri.
This concession aimed to appease the North by limiting the expansion of slavery into new territories.
The Missouri Compromise was a delicate balancing act that sought to maintain peace and stability in the nation while addressing the deeply divisive issue of slavery. However, it only provided a temporary solution and tensions over slavery continued to grow, eventually leading to the Civil War.