Today in History - February 17, 1820 - Senate Passes Missouri Compromise

Senate Passes Missouri Compromise in 1820

Our new country continued to make new strides. Here is the definition of the Missouri Compromise from www.socialstudiesforkids.com/wwww/us/missouricompromisedef.htm

Missouri Compromise

Related Terms • Henry Clay • James Monroe

Definition: Agreement put forward by Henry Clay that allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine to enter the Union as a free state. The Compromise also drew an imaginary line at 36 degrees 30 minutes north latitude, dividing the new Louisiana Territory into two areas, one north and one south. All of the Louisiana Territory north of this line was free territory, meaning that any territories that became states from this area would enable African-Americans to be free. The Compromise also encouraged people in the north to return runaway slaves to their homes and did not prohibit slavery, even in the free territories.

Read article at: www.history.com/this-day-in-history/senate-passes-missouri-compromise