What was the goal of the Missouri Compromise?

The Missouri Compromise, enacted in 1820, aimed primarily to maintain the balance of power in Congress between free states and slave states. As Missouri sought to enter the Union as a slave state, the potential shift in power was a significant concern for lawmakers, particularly those in free states. The compromise allowed Missouri to be admitted as a slave state while simultaneously admitting Maine as a free state. This effectively preserved an equilibrium between the two factions in the Senate, preventing any single side from gaining undue influence.

Additionally, the compromise established a geographic boundary at the latitude of 36°30' north, with the aim of limiting slavery's expansion into new territories in the Louisiana Purchase north of that line. This was a critical aspect of the compromise as it attempted to address the growing sectional tensions over the issue of slavery and its spread. By balancing the representation of free and slave states, the Missouri Compromise sought to create a stable political environment amid rising tensions, which would eventually contribute to the larger conflicts leading up to the Civil War.