
BACKGROUND

The Slave Debate
The Constitution had one flaw which it failed to address. Eventually, this flaw will result in the bloodiest civil war, the world had witnessed up until then.
The constitution failed to address the issue of slavery, in fear of retaliation from the other colonies. Thus, the debate of slavery began with the Northern states speaking against slavery while the Southern States spoke for slavery.
This debate and opposition will only intensify leading to many failed compromises and eventually all out war.

Compromise of 1820
The First Failed Compromise
The Missouri Compromise of 1820, also proposed by Henry Clay was a bill that tried to equalize the power between the northern states which banned slavery and southern states. This bill tried not to displease either of them.
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This treaty allowed Missouri and Maine to join the states. However, it was split, so that Missouri was a slave state while Maine was a free state. This resulted in them having 12 free states and 12 slave states.
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Also, this bill created a line from the southern border of Missouri that divided the Louisiana Territory. Any states created above this line would be free while below would entitle them to slavery.
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Overall, this treaty achieved peace until it broke due to a peculiar state that couldn't be categorized.
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