MISSOURI COMPROMISE Meaning and
Definition
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The Missouri Compromise refers to a landmark political agreement enacted by the United States Congress in 1820. It was an attempt to address the pressing issue of sectional tension and slavery expansion in the newly acquired western territories. This legislation was crucial in maintaining a delicate balance between the free and slave states in the Union.
The core of the Missouri Compromise was the admittance of Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. This decision was accompanied by the creation of a dividing line at the southern border of Missouri, specifically the 36°30' parallel, which became the boundary for future slave and free territories. This meant that any state admitted below the line would be recognized as a slave state, while states admitted above it would be free states.
The compromise also took into account the Louisiana Territory's vast extent by establishing a framework for its eventual division into more states. Congress agreed that no new states north of the 36°30' parallel, except for Missouri, would be allowed to permit slavery. Additionally, this legislative agreement aimed to prevent the spread of slavery in regions where it had not yet taken root.
The Missouri Compromise, although momentarily defusing tensions, only postponed the inevitable conflict over slavery expansion. While it preserved the balance between free and slave states for a period, it also served to further highlight the division between the North and the South, leading ultimately to the eruption of the American Civil War in 1861.
Common Misspellings for MISSOURI COMPROMISE
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Etymology of MISSOURI COMPROMISE
The word "Missouri Compromise" gets its name from its connection to the state of Missouri and the political agreement it represents. The term comprises two elements:
1. Missouri: "Missouri" comes from the indigenous Native American tribe known as the Missouri, also called the Missouria. The tribe was part of the Siouan language family and was historically located along the Missouri River. The territory that became the state of Missouri was named after this tribe.
2. Compromise: "Compromise" is derived from the Latin word "compromissum", which means "mutual promise" or "mutual agreement". In English, it refers to a settlement or resolution reached by each side making concessions to achieve a middle ground.
So, the etymology of "Missouri Compromise" points to both the state involved and the agreement that aimed to resolve disputes regarding the expansion of slavery in the United States.
