What significant compromise was intended to maintain the balance of power between slave and free states?

The Missouri Compromise was a landmark agreement made in 1820 that aimed to address the growing tensions between slave and free states in the Union. This compromise allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state while Maine was admitted as a free state, thus maintaining a delicate balance in the Senate between free and slave states. Additionally, it established a geographic boundary at latitude 36°30' north, with the stipulation that territories north of this line would be free and those south could choose slavery. This compromise was significant because it recognized the sectional divides over slavery and attempted to create a framework for future admissions of states to prevent conflict. The Missouri Compromise was one of the early attempts to manage the contentious issue of slavery in the United States, ultimately highlighting the challenges of maintaining a balance between differing regional interests.