What did the Missouri Compromise of 1820 accomplish?

The Missouri Compromise of 1820 primarily addressed the contentious issue of slavery in the United States, particularly as it related to the expansion of territories. The compromise was a pivotal moment in American history as it attempted to maintain a balance between slave and free states in the Union. Under this agreement, Missouri was admitted as a slave state, while Maine was carved out from Massachusetts and admitted as a free state. This dual admission helped preserve the balance of power in Congress between slave-holding and free states, which was crucial for maintaining political stability at that time.

The Missouri Compromise also established the 36°30′ parallel as a boundary line for the expansion of slavery in the newly acquired territories from the Louisiana Purchase, further shaping the sectional divisions that would come to characterize the United States leading up to the Civil War. This legislative measure was significant because it highlighted the growing tensions over slavery and set a precedent for how the nation would address the divisive issue in the future.