Fifth Grade
Worksheets
The Missouri Compromise
In 1819, there were eleven slave states. There were also eleven free states. That year, Missouri applied to become a state. It wanted to be a slave state. Immediately there was a problem. If Missouri became a state, there would be more slave states than free states. This meant the South would have control in the Senate. Northern states did not want Missouri to become a slave state.
A Congressman from New York wanted to amend Missouri's request for statehood. The amendment would forbid any new slaves in Missouri. People that already had slaves could keep them, but they could not get more. It would also free the children of slaves when they reached the age of 25. The bill passed in the House. It did not pass in the Senate.
The argument over Missouri went on for months. Henry Clay finally came up with a plan. The plan had two parts that he hoped would make everyone happy.
